United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (in case citations, D.N.J.) is a federal court in the Third Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey | |
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(D.N.J.) | |
Location | Martin Luther King Building & U.S. Courthouse (Newark) |
Appeals to | Third Circuit |
Established | September 24, 1789 |
Judges | 17 |
Chief Judge | Renée Marie Bumb |
Officers of the court | |
U.S. Attorney | Philip R. Sellinger |
U.S. Marshal | Juan Mattos Jr. |
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The Judiciary Act of 1789 established New Jersey as a single District on September 24, 1789. On February 13, 1801 the Judiciary Act of 1801 reorganized the federal court system, resulting in the state being divided into Eastern and Western districts. The Judiciary Act of 1801 was repealed on March 8, 1802 and New Jersey was re-established as a single district court.[1]
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of December 16, 2021 the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey is Philip R. Sellinger.[2]
Organization of the court
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey holds court at Mitchell H. Cohen Building & U.S. Courthouse in Camden, at Martin Luther King Building & U.S. Courthouse in Newark, and Clarkson S. Fisher Building & U.S. Courthouse in Trenton.[3]
- Camden Vicinage comprises Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties.
Current judges
As of September 8, 2023:
# | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Appointed by | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Active | Chief | Senior | ||||||
77 | Chief Judge | Renée Marie Bumb | Camden | 1960 | 2006–present | 2023–present | — | G.W. Bush |
80 | District Judge | Susan D. Wigenton | Newark | 1962 | 2006–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
81 | District Judge | Claire C. Cecchi | Newark | 1964 | 2011–present | — | — | Obama |
82 | District Judge | Esther Salas | Newark | 1968 | 2011–present | — | — | Obama |
83 | District Judge | Kevin McNulty | Newark | 1954 | 2012–present | — | — | Obama |
84 | District Judge | Michael A. Shipp | Trenton | 1965 | 2012–present | — | — | Obama |
85 | District Judge | Madeline Cox Arleo | Newark | 1963 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
87 | District Judge | Brian R. Martinotti | Trenton | 1961 | 2016–present | — | — | Obama |
88 | District Judge | Julien Neals | Newark | 1965 | 2021–present | — | — | Biden |
89 | District Judge | Zahid Quraishi | Trenton | 1975 | 2021–present | — | — | Biden |
90 | District Judge | Christine O'Hearn | Camden | 1969 | 2021–present | — | — | Biden |
91 | District Judge | Karen M. Williams | Camden | 1963 | 2021–present | — | — | Biden |
92 | District Judge | Georgette Castner | Trenton | 1979 | 2022–present | — | — | Biden |
93 | District Judge | Evelyn Padin | Newark | 1960 | 2022–present | — | — | Biden |
94 | District Judge | Michael E. Farbiarz | Newark | 1973 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
95 | District Judge | Robert Kirsch | Trenton | 1966 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
96 | District Judge | vacant | — | — | — | — | — | — |
51 | Senior Judge | Anne Elise Thompson | Trenton | 1934 | 1979–2001 | 1994–2001 | 2001–present | Carter |
54 | Senior Judge | Joseph H. Rodriguez | Camden | 1930 | 1985–1998 | — | 1998–present | Reagan |
62 | Senior Judge | Mary Little Cooper | inactive | 1946 | 1992–2011 | — | 2011–present | G.H.W. Bush |
68 | Senior Judge | Katharine Sweeney Hayden | Newark | 1942 | 1997–2010 | — | 2010–present | Clinton |
72 | Senior Judge | Bill Martini | Newark | 1947 | 2002–2015 | — | 2015–present | G.W. Bush |
74 | Senior Judge | Stanley R. Chesler | Newark | 1947 | 2002–2015 | — | 2015–present | G.W. Bush |
75 | Senior Judge | Robert B. Kugler | Camden | 1950 | 2002–2018 | — | 2018–present | G.W. Bush |
78 | Senior Judge | Noel Lawrence Hillman | Camden | 1956 | 2006–2022 | — | 2022–present | G.W. Bush |
79 | Senior Judge | Peter G. Sheridan | Trenton | 1950 | 2006–2018 | — | 2018–present | G.W. Bush |
Vacancies and pending nominations
Seat | Prior judge's duty station | Seat last held by | Vacancy reason | Date of vacancy | Nominee | Date of nomination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | Newark | John Michael Vazquez | Resignation | September 8, 2023 | Jamel K. Semper | September 18, 2023 |
15 | Kevin McNulty | Senior status | October 31, 2023[4] | Edward S. Kiel | October 4, 2023 |
Former judges
# | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | David Brearley | NJ | 1745–1790 | 1789–1790 | — | — | Washington | death |
2 | Robert Morris | NJ | 1745–1815 | 1790–1801[Note 1] 1802–1815[Note 2] |
— | — | Washington Operation of law |
reassignment to E.D.N.J. / W.D.N.J. death |
3 | William Sanford Pennington | NJ | 1757–1826 | 1815–1826[Note 3] | — | — | Madison | death |
4 | William Rossell | NJ | 1760–1840 | 1826–1840[Note 4] | — | — | J.Q. Adams | death |
5 | Mahlon Dickerson | NJ | 1770–1853 | 1840–1841 | — | — | Van Buren | resignation |
6 | Philemon Dickerson | NJ | 1788–1862 | 1841–1862 | — | — | Van Buren | death |
7 | Richard Stockton Field | NJ | 1803–1870 | 1863–1870 | — | — | Lincoln | resignation |
8 | John T. Nixon | NJ | 1820–1889 | 1870–1889 | — | — | Grant | death |
9 | Edward T. Green | NJ | 1837–1896 | 1889–1896[Note 5] | — | — | B. Harrison | death |
10 | Andrew Kirkpatrick | NJ | 1844–1904 | 1896–1904[Note 6] | — | — | Cleveland | death |
11 | William M. Lanning | NJ | 1849–1912 | 1904–1909[Note 7] | — | — | T. Roosevelt | elevation to 3d Cir. |
12 | Joseph Cross | NJ | 1843–1913 | 1905–1913 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | death |
13 | John Rellstab | NJ | 1858–1930 | 1909–1928 | — | 1928–1930 | Taft | death |
14 | Thomas Griffith Haight | NJ | 1879–1942 | 1914–1919 | — | — | Wilson | elevation to 3d Cir. |
15 | John Warren Davis | NJ | 1867–1945 | 1916–1920 | — | — | Wilson | elevation to 3d Cir. |
16 | Charles Francis Lynch | NJ | 1884–1942 | 1919–1925 | — | — | Wilson | resignation |
17 | Joseph Lamb Bodine | NJ | 1883–1950 | 1920–1929 | — | — | Wilson | resignation |
18 | William Nelson Runyon | NJ | 1871–1931 | 1923–1931 | — | — | Harding | death |
19 | William Clark | NJ | 1891–1957 | 1925–1938[Note 8] | — | — | Coolidge | elevation to 3d Cir. |
20 | James William McCarthy | NJ | 1872–1939 | 1928–1929[Note 9] | — | — | Coolidge | resignation |
21 | Guy Leverne Fake | NJ | 1879–1957 | 1929–1951 | 1948–1951 | 1951–1957 | Coolidge | death |
22 | John Boyd Avis | NJ | 1875–1944 | 1929–1944 | — | — | Hoover | death |
23 | Phillip Forman | NJ | 1895–1978 | 1932–1959 | 1951–1959 | — | Hoover | elevation to 3d Cir. |
24 | Thomas Glynn Walker | NJ | 1899–1993 | 1939–1941[Note 10] | — | — | F. Roosevelt | resignation |
25 | William Francis Smith | NJ | 1903–1968 | 1941–1961 | 1959–1961 | — | F. Roosevelt | elevation to 3d Cir. |
26 | Thomas Francis Meaney | NJ | 1888–1968 | 1942–1966 | — | 1966–1968 | F. Roosevelt | death |
27 | Thomas M. Madden | NJ | 1907–1976 | 1945–1968 | 1961–1968 | 1968–1976 | Truman | death |
28 | Alfred Egidio Modarelli | NJ | 1898–1957 | 1951–1957 | — | — | Truman | death |
29 | Richard Hartshorne | NJ | 1888–1975 | 1951–1961 | — | 1961–1975 | Truman | death |
30 | Reynier Jacob Wortendyke Jr. | NJ | 1895–1975 | 1955–1970 | — | 1970–1975 | Eisenhower | death |
31 | Mendon Morrill | NJ | 1902–1961 | 1958–1961 | — | — | Eisenhower | death |
32 | Arthur Stephen Lane | NJ | 1910–1997 | 1960–1967 | — | — | Eisenhower | resignation |
33 | Anthony Thomas Augelli | NJ | 1902–1985 | 1961–1972 | 1968–1972 | 1972–1974 | Kennedy | resignation |
34 | James Aloysius Coolahan | NJ | 1903–1986 | 1962–1974 | 1972–1973 | 1974–1986 | Kennedy | death |
35 | Robert Shaw | NJ | 1907–1972 | 1962–1972 | — | — | Kennedy | death |
36 | Mitchell Harry Cohen | NJ | 1904–1991 | 1962–1974 | 1973–1974 | 1974–1991 | Kennedy | death |
37 | Lawrence Aloysius Whipple | NJ | 1910–1983 | 1967–1978 | 1974–1978 | 1978–1983 | L. Johnson | death |
38 | George Herbert Barlow | NJ | 1921–1979 | 1969–1979 | 1978–1979 | — | Nixon | death |
39 | Leonard I. Garth | NJ | 1921–2016 | 1969–1973 | — | — | Nixon | elevation to 3d Cir. |
40 | Clarkson Sherman Fisher | NJ | 1921–1997 | 1970–1987 | 1979–1987 | 1987–1997 | Nixon | death |
41 | John Joseph Kitchen | NJ | 1911–1973 | 1970–1973 | — | — | Nixon | death |
42 | Frederick Bernard Lacey | NJ | 1920–2017 | 1971–1986 | — | — | Nixon | retirement |
43 | Vincent P. Biunno | NJ | 1916–1991 | 1973–1982 | — | 1982–1991 | Nixon | death |
44 | Herbert Jay Stern | NJ | 1936–present | 1973–1987 | — | — | Nixon | resignation |
45 | Henry Curtis Meanor | NJ | 1929–2008 | 1974–1983 | — | — | Nixon | resignation |
46 | John F. Gerry | NJ | 1925–1995 | 1974–1994 | 1987–1994 | 1994–1995 | Ford | death |
47 | Stanley Brotman | NJ | 1924–2014 | 1975–1990 | — | 1990–2014 | Ford | death |
48 | Harold Arnold Ackerman | NJ | 1928–2009 | 1979–1994 | — | 1994–2009 | Carter | death |
49 | Dickinson Richards Debevoise | NJ | 1924–2015 | 1979–1994 | — | 1994–2015 | Carter | death |
50 | H. Lee Sarokin | NJ | 1928–2023 | 1979–1994 | — | — | Carter | elevation to 3d Cir. |
52 | John Winslow Bissell | NJ | 1940–present | 1982–2005 | 2001–2005 | — | Reagan | retirement |
53 | Maryanne Trump Barry | NJ | 1937–present | 1983–1999 | — | — | Reagan | elevation to 3d Cir. |
55 | Robert Cowen | NJ | 1930–present | 1985–1987 | — | — | Reagan | elevation to 3d Cir. |
56 | Garrett Brown Jr. | NJ | 1943–present | 1985–2012 | 2005–2012 | 2012 | Reagan | retirement |
57 | Alfred James Lechner Jr. | NJ | 1948–present | 1986–2001 | — | — | Reagan | resignation |
58 | Nicholas H. Politan | NJ | 1935–2012 | 1987–2002 | — | — | Reagan | retirement |
59 | Alfred M. Wolin | NJ | 1932–present | 1987–2000 | — | 2000–2004 | Reagan | retirement |
60 | John C. Lifland | NJ | 1933–present | 1988–2001 | — | 2001–2007 | Reagan | retirement |
61 | William G. Bassler | NJ | 1938–present | 1991–2005 | — | 2005–2006 | G.H.W. Bush | retirement |
63 | Joseph Eron Irenas | NJ | 1940–2015 | 1992–2002 | — | 2002–2015 | G.H.W. Bush | death |
64 | Jerome B. Simandle | NJ | 1949–2019 | 1992–2017 | 2012–2017 | 2017–2019 | G.H.W. Bush | death |
65 | William H. Walls | NJ | 1932–2019 | 1994–2005 | — | 2005–2019 | Clinton | death |
66 | Stephen Orlofsky | NJ | 1944–present | 1995–2003 | — | — | Clinton | resignation |
67 | Joseph A. Greenaway Jr. | NJ | 1957–present | 1996–2010 | — | — | Clinton | elevation to 3d Cir. |
69 | Faith S. Hochberg | NJ | 1950–present | 1999–2015 | — | — | Clinton | retirement |
70 | Joel A. Pisano | NJ | 1949–2021 | 2000–2015 | — | — | Clinton | retirement |
71 | Dennis M. Cavanaugh | NJ | 1947–present | 2000–2014 | — | — | Clinton | retirement |
73 | Jose L. Linares | NJ | 1953–present | 2002–2019 | 2017–2019 | — | G.W. Bush | retirement |
76 | Freda L. Wolfson | NJ | 1954–present | 2002–2023 | 2019–2023 | — | G.W. Bush | retirement |
86 | John Michael Vazquez | NJ | 1970–present | 2016–2023 | — | — | Obama | resignation |
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 17, 1790, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 20, 1790, and received commission the same day
- Reassigned from the E.D.N.J. / W.D.N.J.
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 8, 1816, confirmed by the Senate on January 9, 1816, and received commission on January 16, 1816
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 13, 1826, confirmed by the Senate on December 19, 1826, and received commission the same day
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 16, 1889, confirmed by the Senate on January 27, 1890, and received commission the same day
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 8, 1896, confirmed by the Senate on December 15, 1896, and received commission the same day
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 6, 1904, confirmed by the Senate on December 13, 1904, and received commission the same day
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 8, 1925, confirmed by the Senate on December 17, 1925, and received commission the same day
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 6, 1928, confirmed by the Senate on January 8, 1929, and received commission the same day
- Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 16, 1940, confirmed by the Senate on March 5, 1940, and received commission on March 13, 1940
Chief judges
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.
A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
Succession of seats
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List of U.S. attorneys
See also
References
- http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/courts_district_nj.html U.S. District Courts New Jersey, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center
- "Philip R. Sellinger Sworn in as 62nd U.S. Attorney for District of New Jersey" (Press release). U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- "28 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code Title 28. Judiciary and Judicial Procedure § 110". Findlaw.
- "Future Judicial Vacancies | United States Courts". www.uscourts.gov.