ocean county assignment judge

Ocean County courts getting a new top judge in February

One-minute read.

TOMS RIVER - Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr. has been appointed to lead the Ocean County courts as assignment judge starting Feb. 1, New Jersey Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced Tuesday.

Hodgson was appointed to the bench in 2007 by Gov. Jon Corzine, said Rabner, and renominated in 2014 by Gov. Chris Christie to the Superior Court. He served in both the family and criminal divisions until 2015, when he was named presiding judge of General Equity.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the hard-working staff and judges of the Ocean Vicinage and am grateful for Chief Justice Rabner’s confidence in my ability to continue to uphold the exceptional reputation of the Judiciary,” Hodgson said.

He earned his bachelor's degree from Stockton State College and master's degree from Monmouth University, the announcement said, before receiving his law degree from Villanova University. He worked as a law clerk to Ocean Vicinage Civil Presiding Judge Frank R. Buczynski and in private practice for a year before joining the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in 1997.

Hodgson will take the place of Judge Marlene Lynch Ford, the announcement said, who is retiring after over 24 years on the bench, and seven as assignment judge.

“We congratulate Judge Ford on a remarkable career that encompassed all three branches of government, culminating with her impressive contributions to the Judiciary," Rabner said. Judge Hodgson is an exemplary judge with broad experience who is poised to continue the tradition of excellent leadership in the Ocean Vicinage."

Jenna Calderón covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; [email protected]

Ford retiring after 30 years as a Superior Court judge; Hodgson gets top post in Ocean

By David Wildstein , January 10 2023 2:24 pm

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner has named Francis R. Hodgson, Jr. as the new Ocean County assignment judge, replacing Marlene Lynch Ford.

Ford, a former Democratic assemblywoman, is retiring from the bench a little more that one year before she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Hodgson was nominated to the Superior Court by Gov. Jon Corzine in 2007 and has served as presiding judge of the General Equity Division since 2015.  The 60-year-old Republican can hold that post until April 2030.

“We congratulate Judge Ford on a remarkable career that encompassed all three branches of government, culminating with her impressive contributions to the Judiciary,” Rabner said.  “Judge Hodgson is an exemplary judge with broad experience who is poised to continue the tradition of excellent leadership in the Ocean Vicinage.”

The replacement of Ford by Hodgson increases the male majority of assignment judges from 8-7 to 9-6.

Gov. Jim Florio nominated Ford to serve as a Superior Court Judge in 1992 after losing her Assembly seat in the 1991 Republican wave election.  She had first won election to the legislature in 1983, lost to now-State Sen. Robert Singer (R-Lakewood) in 1985 and 1987, and then beat Singer in 1989.

Ford has served as the assignment judge since 2013.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the hard-working staff and judges of the Ocean Vicinage and am grateful for Chief Justice Rabner’s confidence in my ability to continue to uphold the exceptional reputation of the Judiciary,” Hodgson said.

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Judicial retirement & promotion shake up Ocean County court system

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced that Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr. will lead the Ocean Vicinage, effective Feb. 1.

Hodgson will succeed Assignment Judge Marlene Lynch Ford, who is retiring after more than 24 years on the bench, seven as assignment judge.

“We congratulate Judge Ford on a remarkable career that encompassed all three branches of government, culminating with her impressive contributions to the Judiciary. Judge Hodgson is an exemplary judge with broad experience who is poised to continue the tradition of excellent leadership in the Ocean Vicinage,” Chief Justice Rabner said.

Judge Hodgson was appointed to the bench by Gov. Jon Corzine in 2007. In 2014, Gov. Chris Christie renominated him to the Superior Court. He first served in the family division before moving to the criminal division in 2008. He served in the criminal division until 2015, when he was named presiding judge of General Equity.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the hard-working staff and judges of the Ocean Vicinage and am grateful for Chief Justice Rabner’s confidence in my ability to continue to uphold the exceptional reputation of the Judiciary,” Judge Hodgson said.

Judge Hodgson earned his bachelor’s degree from Stockton State College and a master’s degree from Monmouth University. He received his law degree from Villanova University.

He worked as a law clerk to Ocean Vicinage Civil Presiding Judge Frank R. Buczynski and was in private practice for a year before joining the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in 1997.

Ford was elected to the State Assembly in 1983, defeating freshman Republican Assemblyman Warren Wolf. At 29, she was the youngest woman to be elected to the General Assembly.

She was defeated for re-election in 1985 by Republican Robert Singer, but regained her seat in a 1989 rematch with Singer.

She lost her seat again in the 1991 Republican landslide but the following year, Ford was appointed to the Superior Court by Governor James Florio and reappointed with tenure in 1999.

Governor Jon Corzine appointed Ford to serve as Ocean County Prosecutor in 2007 and Governor Chris Christie appointed her to serve as a judge on the New Jersey Superior Court in 2013.

A resident of Toms River, she was elevated to Assignment Judge of Ocean County in 2015.

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JUDGE FRANCIS HODGSON TO SUCCEED JUDGE FORD AS ASSIGNMENT JUDGE

Judge Hodgson will succeed Assignment Judge Marlene Lynch Ford, who, as first reported here  on FAA News, is retiring after more than 24 years on the bench, seven as assignment judge.

“We congratulate Judge Ford on a remarkable career that encompassed all three branches of government, culminating with her impressive contributions to the Judiciary. Judge Hodgson is an exemplary judge with broad experience who is poised to continue the tradition of excellent leadership in the Ocean Vicinage,” Chief Justice Rabner said.

Judge Hodgson was appointed to the bench by Gov. Jon Corzine in 2007. In 2014, Gov. Chris Christie renominated him to the Superior Court. He first served in the family division before moving to the criminal division in 2008. He served in the criminal division until 2015, when he was named presiding judge of General Equity.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the hard-working staff and judges of the Ocean Vicinage and am grateful for Chief Justice Rabner’s confidence in my ability to continue to uphold the exceptional reputation of the Judiciary,” Judge Hodgson said.

Judge Hodgson earned his bachelor’s degree from Stockton State College and a master’s degree from Monmouth University. He received his law degree from Villanova University.

He worked as a law clerk to Ocean Vicinage Civil Presiding Judge Frank R. Buczynski and was in private practice for a year before joining the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in 1997.

He is currently presiding over the New Jersey Attorney General's lawsuit against Jackson Township which alleges that Jackson Township authorities, through ordinances and enforcement actions, violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination by using their zoning powers to regulate land use and housing and make it harder for Orthodox Jews to practice their religion and to deter them from moving there.

Judge Ford who will be turning 70 years old, is an attorney and judge, a former prosecutor and jurist, and a politician who served Ocean County in the New Jersey General Assembly.

She is well known as the "go-to reviewer" of Lakewood's land use applications.

Born Marlene Lynch in Yuma, Arizona on February 23, 1954, she attended St. Rose High School in Belmar after her family's relocation to Point Pleasant. In 1976 she graduated magna cum laude from Lakewood's Georgian Court College with a bachelor's degree in history and in 1979 she was awarded a law degree from Seton Hall University Law School.

She married William J. Ford in 1974 and divorced in 1989. In 1998 she remarried Dr. Francis J Kelly.

She first worked as an attorney for a general law practice firm, and later opened her own practice of law in Point Pleasant Beach. She became General Counsel to H. Hovnanian Industries (1986-1988, and 1990 to 1992), a developer that specializes in age related housing. In 1988 she returned to public service as Counsel to the Democratic Delegation to the NJ General Assembly, and served in that capacity until 1990.

In 1983, at 29 years old, she was the youngest woman to be elected to the State Assembly, defeating freshman Republican Assemblyman Warren Wolf.

She served in the Assembly alongside John Paul Doyle who was elected to represent Ocean County in the Assembly in 1973, and re-elected in 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989. He was the Majority Leader from 1982 to 1986. (To this day, Mr. Doyle is a land use attorney who often represents Lakewood land use board applications.)

Marlene Lynch was defeated for re-election in 1985 by Republican Robert Singer, but regained her seat in a 1989 rematch with Singer. She lost her seat again in the 1991 Republican landslide.

In August 1985, Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean signed into law the “Ford Act”, a bill sponsored by Ford that allowed residents to deduct property taxes paid from their income tax gross income calculation, resulting in cuts of $60 to $140 on their state taxes. It was at the time the largest tax cut in New Jersey history.

Ford also helped pass a constitutional amendment to state law, which was signed into law by Governor Florio, that extended civil rights protections in housing and employment to people regardless of their sexual orientation, something which was considered a pretty controversial bill at the time.

She was the prime sponsor of 75 bills that were signed into law, including the Domestic Violence Prevention Act of 1991 and the Victims’ Rights Amendment to the NJ Constitution.

During her tenure in the legislature, Judge Ford was a member of the Joint Appropriations Committee; she was chairperson of the Assembly Judiciary Committee and chaired special legislative committees that investigated the problem of missing, abused and neglected children. She also spearheaded a special investigation into environmental contamination of federal military installations.

In 1992, after having lost her bid for re-election to the General Assembly, she was appointed to the Superior Court by Governor James Florio and reappointed with tenure in 1999. She served four years in the Family Division of the Ocean Vicinage, ten years in the Civil Division and in 2006 returned to the Family Division as Presiding Judge in Ocean County. In 2007, Democrat Governor Jon Corzine appointed Ford to serve as Ocean County Prosecutor and in 2013, when Republican Gov. Chris Christie nominated Joseph D. Coronato, a Republican, to the Prosecutor position, Gov. Christie returned Ford to serve as a judge on the family division of Burlington County's Superior Court.

In 2015, she returned home to Ocean County where she was elevated to Assignment Judge (Chief Judge) and where she has served ever since. She replaced Judge Vincent J. Grasso, who retired after 26 years, eight of which were serving as an assignment judge.

In recent years, Judge Ford has become famous as the one who gets to deal with Lakewood land use appeals.

In February 2019 the Lakewood Township Planning Board was poised to begin hearing The Parke application which has since received General Development Plan approval for 257 duplexes (514 units), community buildings, recreational areas, common space, and storm water management facilities on the current Eagle Ridge golf course.

Shortly before the start of the application, the neighboring Fairways HOA appealed to Judge Ford to halt the Planning Board proceeding for one month as their attorney was out of town and they wanted to be properly represented at the Board hearing.

Judge Ford granted the one month stay noting, “there is a substantial impact on the plaintiffs if they are not permitted to participate in a meaningful way tonight... I’m inclined at this point to restrain the hearing for a shortened period of time so it’s not an impact upon the applicant, but secondly to allow the homeowners to, who obviously have an interest in this, to have the opportunity to have a meaningful record developed to affirm their position.”

Last year Judge Ford overturned a Lakewood Township Zoning Board approval of a Use Variance for homes on undersized lots on Spruce Street after the Board refused to postpone the hearing so the neighbors could have the opportunity to retain their own engineer to review the plans.

In December 2021, Judge Ford barred Lake Terrace from hosting concerts, and in September, shut down Bnos Brocha's simcha hall, due to lawsuits that charged they never received Township Zoning Board approval for such uses.

Just last Friday, Judge Ford overturned Lakewood Township Planning Board's approval of Yeshiva Toras Chaim's dormitory expansion, finding that the Planning Board lacked jurisdiction to approve a dormitory which is not a permitted use in residential zones.

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Hodgson named assignment judge in Ocean County

Eric conklin.

• Jan 10, 2023

CNN reports that on Jan. 5, the state's Supreme Court ruled that South Carolina's six-week abortion ban was unconstitutional.

TOMS RIVER — Ocean County Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr. was chosen by state Supreme Court Justice Stuart Rabner to lead the vicinage beginning next month.

Hodgson replaces Assignment Judge Marlene Lynch Ford, who is retiring after 24 years on the bench, seven of which were served in that role, the New Jersey Courts said Tuesday. The change is effective Feb. 1.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the hard-working staff and judges of the Ocean Vicinage and am grateful for Chief Justice Rabner’s confidence in my ability to continue to uphold the exceptional reputation of the Judiciary,” Hodgson said in a statement.

Hodgson is a graduate of Stockton, Monmouth and Villanova universities.

He was first appointed to the bench in 2007 by then-Gov. Jon S. Corzine, serving in the Family Division before being assigned to the Criminal Division in 2008. In 2014, Gov. Chris Christie re-nominated him to the Superior Court.

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Hodgson served in the Criminal Division before he was named presiding judge of General Equity in 2015.

Before joining the bench, Hodgson was employed as a law clerk for Vicinage Civil Presiding Judge Frank R. Buczynski and was in private practice for a year before joining the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in 1997 .

“We congratulate Judge Ford on a remarkable career that encompassed all three branches of government, culminating with her impressive contributions to the Judiciary,” Rabner said in a statement. “Judge Hodgson is an exemplary judge with broad experience who is poised to continue the tradition of excellent leadership in the Ocean Vicinage.”

Contact Eric Conklin:

609-272-7261

[email protected]

Twitter @ACPressConklin

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New assignment judge appointed for Ocean County

Kimberly Redmond // January 11, 2023 //

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COURT ADMINISTRATION

OCEAN FAMILY DIVISION

Angie Tracey, Family Division Manager   732-504-0700 , ext. 64050

Erica Buczynski-Team Leader for Juvenille Case(FJ) 732-504-0700 , ext. 64110

Scott Subelka, Team Leader for Custody, Establish/Modify Support, and Parenting Time (FD/FM)    732-504-0700 , ext. 64050

Lisa Slavick, Asst. Family Division Manager (DV, CIC, Juvenile)   732-504-0700 , ext. 64090

Whitney Place, Team Leader for Domestic Violence Cases (FV / FO)   732-504-0700 , ext. 64090

Bernadette Moynihan, Team Leader for Divorce Cases (FM)   732-504-0700 , ext. 64050

Team Leader for Divorce Cases (FM)   732-504-0700 , ext. 64050

Erica Buczynski, Team Leader for Children in Court (CIC)   732-504-0700 , ext. 64120

Kelly Berardi, Assistant family Division Manager(FM,FD)   732-504-0700 , ext. 64064

OCEAN FINANCE DIVISION

Court Held Funds (collection of fines, restitution, bail and fees) , Ocean 732-504-0700 , ext. 64150

Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Accounting and Grants Reporting , Ocean 732-504-0700 , ext. 64140

Christine Lee, Finance Division Manager   732-504-0700 , ext. 64330

Dawn Gilligan, Assistant Finance Division Manager   732-504-0700 , ext. 64193

OCEAN HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION

Human Resources Main Number 732-504-0700 , ext. 64030

Krystyna Carlino, Human Resources Division Manager 732-504-0700 , ext. 64330

OCEAN MUNICIPAL DIVISION

Municipal Division Main Number 732-504-0700 , ext. 64040

Joseph Sclama, Municipal Division Manager   732-504-0700

Bonnie Baine, Asst. Municipal Division Manager   732-504-0700

OCEAN PROBATION DIVISION

Kimberly KnappChief Probation Officer   732-504-0700 , ext. 64541

Wayne Lagerquist, Asst. Chief Probation Officer-Child Support   1-877-655-4371

Asst. Chief Probation Officer-Adult and Juvenile Supervision   732-504-0700 , 

OCEAN COUNTY JUDGES PHONE LIST

J udge/Phone Number   Location

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Politics & Government

Former prosecutor ford to lead ocean county courts, marlene lynch ford will become the assignment judge july 1, following the retirement of judge vincent j. grasso..

Karen Wall , Patch Staff

Superior Court Judge Marlene Lynch Ford, the Ocean County prosecutor who preceded Joseph Coronato, has been named to lead the Ocean County courts as of July 1, according to a news release.

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced the appointment Monday. Ford will succeed Assignment Judge Vincent J. Grasso, who is retiring after 26 years on the bench, including eight as assignment judge.

“We congratulate Judge Grasso on his many years of outstanding service to the judiciary and the public. He has led the Ocean Vicinage with distinction,” Rabner said.

Find out what's happening in Toms River with free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rabner said Ford’s work as prosecutor and as a judge “brings a wealth of experience to the position.

“Under her leadership, I am confident that the dedicated judges and staff in the vicinage will continue to dispense justice in a fair and efficient manner that is accessible to all,” Rabner said.

Ford was first appointed to the bench by Gov. James Florio and took the oath of office on Oct. 16, 1992. She first served in the family division of the Ocean Vicinage before moving to the civil division in 1996. She served in the civil division until 2006, when she was named presiding judge of the family division. In June 2007, Judge Ford was appointed Ocean County Prosecutor by Gov. Jon Corzine. In 2013, Gov. Chris Christie appointed her once again to the Superior Court. She has served in the family division of the Burlington Vicinage since the time of her appointment.

Ford graduated magna cum laude from Georgian Court College and earned her law degree from Seton Hall Law School, where she received the Women’s Law Forum Award. She began her legal career in private practice while also serving as the municipal prosecutor for Jackson Township. She was elected for two terms to represent the 10th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly and worked as general counsel to the Assembly Democratic delegation. She also worked as general counsel to H. Hovnanian Industries.

In 1992, she was honored by New Jersey Monthly magazine as one of New Jersey’s “heroes” for her role in expanding the rights of people to fair housing and employment, regardless of their sexual orientation.

 “I want to thank the chief justice for placing his confidence in me,” Ford said. “I am so proud of the work of our judges and staff in the Judiciary. I am committed to ensuring that they maintain the highest level of fairness and quality service that the public expects and deserves from their government.”

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A Look at the First Judges Assigned to the State’s New Complex Business Litigation Program

Starting in January, New Jersey businesses will have the option of having their high dollar, and thus presumably more complex, disputes heard by judges who have been specially assigned to the state’s new Complex Business Litigation Program.

According to the court’s announcement about the program , the judges assigned:

will receive additional training in relevant areas of the law, such as the Uniform Commercial Code, securities, anti-racketeering, and business valuation. They also will receive additional training in effective case and trial management, e-discovery, and other relevant topics…Each participating judge will be expected to issue at least two written opinions annually, which will be posted at njcourts.com. Together with the previously posted business-related decisions, the opinions will comprise a substantial legal resource for the business community.

The announcement also provided a list of the judges who have been selected to serve as the state’s inaugural class of complex business jurists. Below is that list by county, with added information about the judges’ backgrounds.

Atlantic County

Judge J. Christopher Gibson (primary) – Gibson joined the court in March 2012. His current term ends on March 16, 2019. If he is reappointed he may serve until 2041. He graduated from Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Del. Before joining the court, he was a partner in the Wildwood firm of Barry, Corrado, Grassi & Gibson.

Judge James P. Savio (backup) – Savio, an alumni of Seton Hall Law, worked in private practice and served as a municipal judge before he was appointed to his current judgeship in 2009. His current term ends on July 2, 2016. If he is reappointed he may serve until 2022.

Bergen County

Judge Robert C. Wilson – Wilson is a veteran business court judge, having overseen the Bergen county pilot program the new statewide program is replacing. He joined the court in 1999 and was reappointed for tenure status in 2006. His mandatory retirement date is 2024. Wilson attended New York Law School.

Burlington County

Civil Presiding Judge Marc M. Baldwin – Baldwin joined the court in 2000 and was reappointed for tenure in 2007. The Rutgers-Camden alum faces mandatory retirement in 2017.

Camden County

Judge Michael J. Kassel – Kassel worked in private practice and as a prosecutor before joining the court in 2001. He was reappointed in 2008, and has a mandatory retirement date of 2027. Kassel earned his law degree at Rutgers-Camden.

Essex County

Judge James S. Rothschild Jr. – Rothschild was appointed to the court in 2002, and granted tenure in 2009. After graduating from Yale Law School, he worked at Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti, where he attained partner status. His mandatory retirement date is 2016.

Hudson County

Judge Barry Sarkisian – Sarkisian, a graduate of New York Law School, joined the bench in 2005 and was granted tenure in 2012. His mandatory retirement date is 2018. Prior to becoming a judge, he founded a law firm with State Senator Bernard Kenny and Edward Florio.

Mercer County

General Equity Presiding Judge Paul Innes – Innes graduated from the University of Villanova School of Law. After graduation, he split his time between private practice at Hartsough, Kenny and Innes in Princeton and serving as a prosecutor. He was appointed to the court in 1995 and was granted tenure in 2002. His mandatory retirement date is 2025.

Middlesex County

Assignment Judge Travis L. Francis – Francis was appointed to the court in 1992 and reappointed for tenure in 1999. The Rutgers-Newark alum’s mandatory retirement date is 2021. Before joining the bench, he worked in private practice at a firm and as a solo practitioner. He also served as a public defender and worked in-house at Prudential Insurance.

Monmouth County

Judge Katie A. Gummer – Gummer is relatively new to the bench, having been appointed in 2013. She is up for reappointment in 2020 and if reappointed would face mandatory retirement in 2034. The Yale alum was a partner at DLA Piper before joining the bench.

Morris and Sussex Counties

General Equity Presiding Judge Stephan C. Hansbury – Hansbury has been a judge since 2001. He was granted tenure in 2007, and faces mandatory retirement in 2016. After graduating from Seton Hall Law School, he worked in private practice.

Passaic County

Judge Thomas J. LaConte – LaConte was appointed to the court in 2005, and granted tenure in 2012. The Rutgers-Newark alum faces mandatory retirement in 2018. Prior to joining the court, he was a partner at Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard.

Union County

Judge Thomas J. Walsh – Walsh worked as an assistant prosecutor, then spent nearly 20 years as a trial attorney working in criminal, civil and family divisions before joining the court in 2010. He attended law school at the City University of New York. He is up for reappointment in 2017, and if reappointed would face mandatory retirement in 2029.

Somerset, Warren, and Hunterdon Counties

Assignment Judge Yolanda Ciccone – Ciccone joined the court in 1991 and was granted tenure in 1998. After graduating from Seton Hall Law School, she served as the Assistant Prosecutor of Middlesex County. Her mandatory retirement date is 2024.

Ocean County

Civil Presiding Judge Craig L. Wellerson – Wellerson, a Case Western Reserve alum, was appointed to the court in 2001 and reappointed in 2007. He faces mandatory retirement in 2027. Prior to joining the court, Wellerson was a partner at Dasti, Murphy, Wellerson & McGuckin.

Cumberland, Salem, and Gloucester Counties

Judge Richard J. Geiger – Geiger was appointed to the court in 2002 and granted tenure in 2009. The Rutgers-Camden alum’s mandatory retirement date is 2023. Prior to joining the court he was a partner at Davidow, Sherman, Eddowes & Geiger.

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Judicial Branch of California

Court closure notice.

The Court will be closed on April 1, 2023 in observance of Cesar Chavez Day. Our doors will open at 8:00am on April 2, 2023.

Judicial Assignments

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Texas federal court will not adopt policy against ‘judge shopping’

By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) – A federal court in Texas that has become a favored destination for conservatives suing to block President Joe Biden’s agenda has decided not to follow a policy adopted by the judiciary’s top policymaking body that aims to curtail the practice of “judge shopping.”

Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey of the Northern District of Texas announced the decision in a Friday letter to Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had urged him to implement a new policy that aimed to ensure cases challenging federal or state laws are randomly assigned judges.

The policy announced by the U.S. Judicial Conference on March 12 would require a lawsuit challenging federal or state laws to be assigned a judge randomly throughout a federal district rather than stay in the specific, smaller division, or courthouse, where the case was initially filed.

If implemented, that policy would disrupt a tactic used by conservative litigants of filing cases in small divisions in Texas’ four federal districts whose one or two judges were appointed by Republican presidents and often rule in their favor on issues like abortion, immigration and gun control.

Following blowback from Senate Republicans and some conservative judges, judicial policymakers later clarified that the policy was discretionary, leaving it to each district court to decide how to implement it.

In his letter, Godbey, an appointee of Republican former President George W. Bush, said the judges in his district met on Wednesday. “The consensus was not to make any change to our case assignment process at this time,” he said.

His letter was first reported by Law360. Schumer’s spokespeople did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has 11 active judges and is divided into seven divisions. Most judges are in Dallas, but some smaller divisions like Amarillo, Fort Worth and Lubbock have just one or two active judges.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case arising from one of these small courts, in which U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk – an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump in the single-judge division of Amarillo – suspended approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.

The Supreme Court has allowed the pill to remain on the market while it considers the appeal. Justices signaled during Tuesday’s arguments they were unlikely to uphold restrictions.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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Ocean Court Offices/Divisions

Ocean superior court, on this page, civil division .

Most civil cases that are heard in the Superior Court involve disputes in which a plaintiff claims that they have been hurt by the actions of the defendant and seeks monetary compensation. Examples of such cases are those involving automobile accidents, medical malpractice, breaches of contracts and landlord/tenant disputes.

Civil cases in which the amount in controversy is more than $20,000 are heard in the Civil Division of Superior Court. Cases in which the amount in controversy is over $5,000 up to $20,000 are heard in the Special Civil Part of the Civil Division. Those in which the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less are also heard in the Special Civil Part and are known as small claims cases. In all, about 460,000 cases are heard in the Civil Division and Special Civil Part.

Civil cases in which monetary damages are not being sought are heard in the General Equity Division of Superior Court. General Equity judges handle non-jury cases such as those involving trade secrets, labor matters, foreclosures and other disputes in which court relief, often in the form of restraining orders, is sought on an emergency basis.

Criminal Division 

The Criminal Division is responsible for processing and managing all indictable criminal cases involving adult offenders. In rare instances, juveniles may be waived to adult court based on the severity of the offense. The office handles all pre-adjudicatory functions of the Superior Court, Criminal Division, as well as Post Conviction Motions. Disorderly persons, petty disorderly person’s offenses and motor vehicle violations are normally heard in the Municipal Courts. Typical clients of the Criminal Division would be those:

• Arrested and charged with a criminal offense;
• Applying for pretrial intervention (PTI);
• Convicted of a criminal offense and needing a pre-sentence investigation completed;
• Having a question under pretrial monitoring;
• Seeking legal representation by the Office of the Public Defender;
• Inquiring about a criminal public record;
• Having questions concerning public access terminals;
• Appealing a Municipal Court sentence ( pro se kit available );
• Applying for an expungement of a criminal record ( pro se kit available ); and
• Applying for recovery court

Family Division

Family Court is responsible to hear all actions in which the principal claim is unique to and arises out of a family or family type relationship. Family Court has jurisdiction over matters involving divorce, child support, paternity, custody, parenting time, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, family crisis, foster care placement, kinship legal guardianship, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights and adoption.

Finance Division

The Division of Finance manages all aspects of the Court's financial operations including the collection of fines, restitution, child support, bail and fees which are due to government agencies and individuals.

Human Resources Division

The  Division of Human Resources  is responsible for a variety of programs and services for employees and applicants. The division administers all Human Resources related functions for the New Jersey Superior Court in each vicinage. The division is responsible for personnel management, labor and employee relations, Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action, training, payroll, health benefits, administration and volunteer programs.

The Superior Court employs individuals in a wide variety of types of positions. We have career opportunities for individuals in direct court services functions (i.e., Probation Officers, Criminal, Family and Civil case management, support staff, etc.) and in support services functions (i.e., Human Resources, Finance, Facilities, Purchasing, etc.).

See employment opportunities .

It division, municipal division.

Municipal courts have jurisdiction over various matters, including motor vehicle and traffic violations, ordinance violations, disorderly and petty disorderly persons offenses and certain penalty enforcement actions, such as fish and game violations. The municipal courts also play a vital role in the indictable charges that ultimately end up in Superior Court. These charges are filed first in the municipal court, where a determination of probable cause is made, conditions of pretrial release are set, and preliminary arraignments are held. The complaints are then forwarded to the county prosecutor’s office for possible grand jury action. Many indictable charges are downgraded to disorderly persons offenses and are heard in the municipal court.

Municipal courts have very limited juvenile jurisdiction such as jurisdiction to handle motor vehicle complaints involving minors and curfew violations. In addition to assessing fines and revoking various privileges, municipal court judges may imprison defendants for up to six months. There are no jury trials in municipal court.

Questions or comments concerning court operations in any of the municipal courts may be directed to the attention of the Municipal Division Manager or visit the Municipal Court within the Superior Court of New Jersey  page. 

Operations Division

Probation division.

The Probation Division, as part of the Judiciary, plays a vital role in accomplishing the mission of the Court.

The role of Probation Division is to promote the welfare and safety of children, families and communities in New Jersey by enforcing court orders, supervising offenders, monitoring behavior, and intervening to produce positive outcomes.