Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Fabiana Pierre-Louis
2020 - Present
2027
5
Fabiana Pierre-Louis is a judge of the New Jersey Supreme Court. She assumed office on September 1, 2020. Her current term ends on September 1, 2027.
Governor Phil Murphy (D) nominated Pierre-Louis to the court on June 5, 2020, to succeed retiring Justice Walter F. Timpone.[1] The New Jersey state Senate confirmed Pierre-Louis' nomination on August 27, 2020.[2] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Pierre-Louis was born in New York, New York.[3] She received a bachelor's degree in political science from Rutgers University–New Brunswick in 2002 and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School in Camden in 2006.[4] After law school, Pierre-Louis clerked for New Jersey Supreme Court Justice John E. Wallace Jr.[5]
Pierre-Louis worked as an associate at the law firm Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads for three years before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey. She worked there from 2010 to 2019 as an assistant U.S. attorney and attorney-in-charge of the Trenton and Camden offices. She also worked in the general crimes unit and organized crime and gang unit in the Newark office. Pierre-Louis joined Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads as a partner in the white collar and government investigations practice group in 2019.[3][6][7][8]
Appointments
2020
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) nominated Fabiana Pierre-Louis to the New Jersey Supreme Court on June 5, 2020. The New Jersey State Senate confirmed Pierre-Louis on August 27. Pierre-Louis was the governor's first nominee to the seven-member court.[9][10]
Pierre-Louis was nominated to succeed Justice Walter F. Timpone, who retired on August 31, 2020. Timpone retired 10 weeks before his mandatory retirement date of November 10, to allow his Pierre-Louis to join the bench for the September court session.[11]
At the time of the appointment, state court judges were appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate.
State supreme court judicial selection in New Jersey
- See also: Judicial selection in New Jersey
The seven justices of the New Jersey Supreme Court are selected by gubernatorial appointment. The governor's nominee must be confirmed by the New Jersey state Senate.[12][13]
Justices serve an initial term of seven years after appointment. If renominated by the governor and confirmed for reappointment by the Senate, they may serve on the court until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 70.[12][13]
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve on the supreme court, a person must have been admitted to practice law in New Jersey for at least 10 years.[13]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court is selected by gubernatorial appointment. The position of chief justice is a specific seat on the court rather than a temporary leadership position.[13]
Vacancies
Vacancies on the court are filled through gubernatorial appointment. The governor's nominee must be confirmed by the state Senate.[14]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ NJ.com, "Murphy’s historic nomination of a black woman to N.J. Supreme Court could resonate for decades," June 7, 2020
- ↑ TAPinto.net, "State Senate Confirms Union Catholic Grad Fabiana Pierre-Louis as NJ's First Black Female Supreme Court Justice," August 28, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 New Jersey Courts, "Justice Fabiana Pierre-Louis," accessed July 18, 2021
- ↑ Rutgers University Alumni Association, "Rutgers Grad Fabiana Pierre-Louis to be First Black Woman on New Jersey Supreme Court," June 8, 2020
- ↑ New Jersey Courts, "Justice Fabiana Pierre-Louis," accessed July 18, 2021
- ↑ State of New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy, "Governor Murphy Announces Intention to Nominate Fabiana Pierre-Louis to Serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court," June 5, 2020
- ↑ Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP, "Fabiana Pierre-Louis, Partner," archived August 8, 2020
- ↑ Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP, "Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Fabiana Pierre-Louis Rejoins Montgomery McCracken in New Jersey," July 31, 2019
- ↑ NJ.com, "Murphy to nominate attorney to become first black woman to N.J. Supreme Court," June 5, 2020
- ↑ ABC 6 Actions News, "Daughter of immigrants, Fabiana Pierre-Louis becomes 1st Black woman on New Jersey Supreme Court," August 27, 2020
- ↑ New Jersey Globe, "Timpone resigning today; Pierre-Louis will take oath tomorrow," August 31, 2020
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 New Jersey Courts, "The New Jersey Courts | A guide to the judicial process," accessed August 27, 2021
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 New Jersey Legislature, "New Jersey State Constitution 1947," accessed August 27, 2021 (Article VI Section II)
- ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "New Jersey State Constitution 1947," accessed August 27, 2021 (Article V Section I)
Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of New Jersey • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Jersey
State courts:
New Jersey Supreme Court • New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division • New Jersey Superior Courts • New Jersey Municipal Courts • New Jersey Tax Court
State resources:
Courts in New Jersey • New Jersey judicial elections • Judicial selection in New Jersey
