By Richard Luthmann
Heather Darling, twice elected as Surrogate Judge in Morris County, New Jersey, has become the center of a political firestorm following revelations about her past. Once a dominatrix offering muscle worship sessions and selling explicit photographs, Darling now oversees millions in estates, trusts, and guardianships.
Darling’s unconventional journey from bodybuilding dominatrix to judicial officer has captivated and outraged the public. Before becoming Morris County Surrogate, Darling lived a life designed to shock.
As a competitive bodybuilder in the early 2000s, she parlayed her physical prowess—she famously boasted a 500-pound bench press—into a dominatrix career that included selling explicit photographs, offering muscle worship services, and even appearing on national television to promote her brand and search for “love.”
Darling’s rise to infamy included an appearance on The Jenny Jones Show, where she discussed her dominance and her ability to command submission from men.
“I could lift you and toss you across the room if I wanted to,” she said during the episode, flexing her biceps to gasps and cheers from the audience.
Her activities around 2000 were wide-ranging. Darling sold nude photos of herself for $12 apiece and offered in-person sessions where clients paid to admire her physique and submit to her commands. In one widely publicized incident, she described her sessions as “empowering” for both herself and her clients, blending the worlds of bodybuilding and BDSM.
While the revelations are new to the public, critics allege her past was an open secret in political and judicial circles, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and the complicity of New Jersey’s GOP leaders. Darling has been romantically linked to the controversial Former Morris County Sheriff Edward Rochford for many years.
First elected in 2019 and reelected in 2023, Darling claims widespread support from top Republicans. Her website lists endorsements from prominent figures, including Senator Joe Pennacchio, Senator Anthony Bucco, and Morris County Sheriff James Gannon.
Fast-forward two decades, Darling now occupies a judicial role overseeing estates, trusts, adoptions, and guardianships.
But the recent revelations about her dominatrix days, newly uncovered by the public, are raising questions about her qualifications, the integrity of the Morris County GOP, and whether her past was deliberately concealed during her campaigns.
“I have concerns about transparency and accountability,” said a Morris County Republican Party insider who did not wish to be named. “This issue should have been addressed and not hidden from conservative Republican voters for years. The Morris County GOP should have prioritized honesty and integrity over covering up this scandal.”
A Shocking Past Meets a Critical Role
Darling was first elected Morris County Surrogate in 2019 and reelected in 2023. As Surrogate, she handles vital legal matters, including the probate of wills, the administration of estates, and the management of $25 million in trusts for minors.
Critics argue that her history as a dominatrix—selling power dynamics to clients in the form of fetish services—clashes with the ethical standards required of a judicial officer.
“She marketed fantasies of control, and now she wields real control over people’s estates and families,” said a probate attorney based in Morristown who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. “The disconnect is startling and deeply troubling.”
Others say it’s “par for the course.”
“In New Jersey, the career path from dominatrix to judge is a straight line. It’s just different levels of getting paid fees to harm and demean the person in front of you,” said a Morris County court litigant who did not wish to be named.
Did GOP Leaders Know?
An extensive list of endorsements from Republican leaders fueled Darling’s political rise. According to her website, she received support from:
Senators: Joe Pennacchio, Anthony Bucco, Jon Bramnick, and Parker Space
Assembly Members: Brian Bergen, Christian Barranco, Aura Dunn, Jay Webber, and Mike Inganamort
Morris County Sheriff: James Gannon
Morris County Commissioners: Christine Myers, Stephen Shaw, Tayfun Selen, Deborah Smith, Douglas Cabana, John Krickus, and Tom Mastrangelo
Mayors: Ryan Martinez (Butler), Janet Hoven (Chester Borough), Tom Andes (Denville Township), Joe Pannullo (East Hanover), Mark Taylor (Florham Park), Ace Gallagher (Hanover Township), Eric Wilsusen (Jefferson Township), Guy Piserchia (Long Hill), Christine Glassner (Mendham Borough), Sarah Neibart (Mendham Township), Sam Morris (Mine Hill), Matt Kayne (Montville), Mike Stanzilis (Mount Arlington), Joe Nicastro (Mt. Olive), Jamie Barberio (Parsippany-Troy Hills), Ryan Herd (Pequannock), Paul Carelli (Riverdale), Tom Mulligan (Rockaway Borough), Jim Rilee (Roxbury Township), Matt Murello (Washington Township), and Bill Chegwidden (Wharton).
These endorsements lent significant legitimacy to Darling’s campaigns, but now many question whether her backers were aware of her controversial past and why they didn’t disclose it to voters.
“Did Joe Pennacchio or Tony Bucco know? Did Sheriff Gannon know?” asked a conservative voter in Rockaway. “If they knew, endorsed, and didn’t tell us, that’s a betrayal of their responsibility to voters.”
We asked many Morris County elected officials for comment. As of press time, no one responded to our inquiry. Here is the email:
From: Dick LaFontaine, Investigative Journalist <RALafontaine@protonmail.com>
Date: On Monday, November 18th, 2024 at 4:45 PM
Subject: Support for Sex Workers in Judicial Roles in the NJ Courts
To: wchegwidden@whartonnj.com <wchegwidden@whartonnj.com>, joe@senatorjoe.com <joe@senatorjoe.com>, senbucco@njleg.org <senbucco@njleg.org>, senbramnick@njleg.org <senbramnick@njleg.org>, senspace@njleg.org <senspace@njleg.org>, morrisgop@gmail.com <morrisgop@gmail.com>, njassemblygop@njleg.org <njassemblygop@njleg.org>, leginfo@njleg.org <leginfo@njleg.org>, aswdunn@njleg.org <aswdunn@njleg.org>, asmbergen@njleg.org <asmbergen@njleg.org>, asmbarranco@njleg.org <asmbarranco@njleg.org>, asmwebber@njleg.org <asmwebber@njleg.org>, asminganamort@njleg.org <asminganamort@njleg.org>, cmyers@morriscountynj.gov <cmyers@morriscountynj.gov>, sshaw@morriscountynj.gov <sshaw@morriscountynj.gov>, tselen@morriscountynj.gov <tselen@morriscountynj.gov>, dsmith@morriscountynj.gov <dsmith@morriscountynj.gov>, dcabana@morriscountynj.gov <dcabana@morriscountynj.gov>, jkrickus@morriscountynj.gov <jkrickus@morriscountynj.gov>, tmastrangelo@morriscountynj.gov <tmastrangelo@morriscountynj.gov>, rmartinez@butlerborough.com <rmartinez@butlerborough.com>, jhoven@chesterborough.org <jhoven@chesterborough.org>, tandes@denvillenj.gov <tandes@denvillenj.gov>, jpannullo@easthanovertownship.com <jpannullo@easthanovertownship.com>, mtaylor@florhamparknj.gov <mtaylor@florhamparknj.gov>, tgallagher@hanovertownship.com <tgallagher@hanovertownship.com>, ewilsusen@jeffersontownship.net <ewilsusen@jeffersontownship.net>, info@njcm.org <info@njcm.org>, gpiserchia@longhillnj.gov <gpiserchia@longhillnj.gov>, cglassner@mendhamnj.org <cglassner@mendhamnj.org>, sneibart@mendhamtownship.org <sneibart@mendhamtownship.org>, MayorSamMorris@MineHill.com <MayorSamMorris@MineHill.com>, mkayne@montvillenj.org <mkayne@montvillenj.org>, mstanzilis@mountarlingtonnj.org <mstanzilis@mountarlingtonnj.org>, jnicastro@mtolivetwp.org <jnicastro@mtolivetwp.org>, jbarberio@parsippany.net <jbarberio@parsippany.net>, rherd@peqtwp.org <rherd@peqtwp.org>, pcarelli@riverdalenj.gov <pcarelli@riverdalenj.gov>, mayormulligan@rockawayborough.org <mayormulligan@rockawayborough.org>, jrilee@roxburynj.us <jrilee@roxburynj.us>, mmurello@wtmorris.net <mmurello@wtmorris.net>
CC: RickLaRiviere@proton.me <RickLaRiviere@proton.me>, mthomasnast@protonmail.com <mthomasnast@protonmail.com>, frankiepressman@protonmail.com <frankiepressman@protonmail.com>, Richard Luthmann <richard.luthmann@protonmail.com>
Hello,We are investigative journalists preparing a story about Morris County and sex workers in the New Jersey Courts.
Do you, your office, and/or NJ elected officials you endorse support current and/or former sex workers holding judicial roles in the New Jersey Courts?
If you found out someone you previously endorsed for judicial office was a sex worker, would that cause you to change your mind about that endorsement?
Thank you for your time and response.
Regards,
Dick LaFontaine
Investigative Journalist
Hiding in Plain Sight?
While Darling’s dominatrix career is only now becoming public knowledge, critics argue her past was likely an open secret in legal and political circles.
“This wasn’t a secret to everyone—it was a secret to the voters,” said a retired judicial figure from Sussex County. “The people who endorsed her and worked with her knew, and they stayed quiet. That’s the real scandal.”
In 2019, former Morris Sheriff Ed Rochford gave Darling a shining political endorsement in the local press. The two were an item, but the endorsement never made that disclaimer. Sources further say that Darling has had “intimate relationships” with other members of the Morris County political and judicial hierarchy.
Darling’s election and reelection reflect broader issues within New Jersey’s judiciary, which has long faced allegations of corruption and favoritism.
“This isn’t just about Heather Darling—it’s about how New Jersey’s legal system operates,” said the local political insider. “If her past could be buried this easily, it says a lot about the lack of accountability in our courts.”
The GOP Faces Fallout
Darling’s Republican backers are now facing calls for accountability. Senator Joe Pennacchio, a vocal supporter, has not addressed whether he was aware of her dominatrix past. Morris County Sheriff James Gannon and Assemblyman Brian Bergen have similarly declined to comment.
“This isn’t who we are as a party,” said a longtime local Republican. “If our leaders can’t be honest with us about the candidates they support, how can we trust them with anything else?”
Darling’s 2023 reelection, supported by many of the same GOP leaders, has only intensified the backlash. Critics argue the endorsements reflect a pattern of prioritizing political expediency over transparency.
“People want answers,” the source said. “Did these leaders know about her past? And if they didn’t, why didn’t they vet her more thoroughly? This scandal is as much about them as it is about her.”
A Dual Legacy
Despite the controversy, Darling’s tenure as Surrogate has been marked by significant achievements. She modernized probate processes through the “E-Probate Platform,” created a Reduced Fee Program for low-income residents, and launched the educational video series “60 Seconds with the Surrogate.”
But her accomplishments are now overshadowed by questions about her past and the political machine that enabled her rise.
“Heather Darling has done some good work, but it’s hard to separate that from the revelations about her history,” said Miller.
What’s Next for Morris County?
With three years left in her term, Darling faces mounting scrutiny from constituents and critics. For many, the scandal has symbolized broader problems within Morris County’s GOP and judiciary.
“This isn’t going away,” said a local political insider. “Voters deserve answers from Darling and from every leader who supports her.”
As the fallout continues, Heather Darling’s story raises uncomfortable questions about personal reinvention, political accountability, and the integrity of New Jersey’s courts. Whether those questions will lead to meaningful change—or more of the same—remains to be seen.
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