Judges appointed by Chris Christie
 |
| State Executive Offices |
| Elections by Year |
| 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 |
| State Executive Analyses |
This page lists judges appointed by Chris Christie (R) during his term as Governor of New Jersey. As of today, the total number of Christie appointees was 117. For the full profile of Christie, click here.
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population. Some New Jersey judges are outside of that coverage scope. As a result, this page does not provide an exhaustive list of all judges appointed by Gov. Christie.
Appointed judges
The tables below list the governor's appointees to the courts across the state.
State Courts
Supreme Court
| Name | Court | Active |
|---|---|---|
|
New Jersey Supreme Court |
||
|
New Jersey Supreme Court |
||
|
New Jersey Supreme Court |
September 1, 2011 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Supreme Court |
November 19, 2013 - February 15, 2022 |
|
|
New Jersey Supreme Court |
June 2, 2016 - August 31, 2020 |
|
|
New Jersey Supreme Court |
June 19, 2014 - August 17, 2024 |
Appellate Division
| Name | Court | Active |
|---|---|---|
|
New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division Part E |
April 26, 2018 - Present |
Other State Courts
| Name | Court | Active |
|---|---|---|
|
New Jersey Tax Court |
2014 - 2024 |
|
|
New Jersey Tax Court |
2014 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Tax Court |
January 19, 2017 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Tax Court |
December 18, 2017 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Tax Court |
2015 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Tax Court |
July 17, 2017 - July 17, 2024 |
Local Courts
| Name | Court | Active |
|---|---|---|
|
Middlesex County New Jersey (Judicial)|New Jersey Vicinage 8 |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 10 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 10 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 11 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 11 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 11 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 11 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 12 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 12 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 12 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 12 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 12 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 12 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 12 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 12 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 12 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 13 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 13 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 13 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 13 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 14 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 14 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 14 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 14 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 14 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 15 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 15 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 15 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 15 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 15 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 15 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 1 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 1 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 1 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 1 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 2 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 2 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 2 Superior Court |
2011 - 2017 |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 3 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 3 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 3 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 4 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 4 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 4 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 4 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 4 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
March 10, 2017 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
2014 - 2018 |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
2015 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
2016 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
2016 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
January 17, 2017 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
July 1, 2016 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
2016 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
2016 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
2017 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
2017 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 5 Superior Court |
2017 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 6 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 6 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 6 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 6 Superior Court |
March 5, 2013 - Present |
|
|
New Jersey Vicinage 6 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 6 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 6 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 6 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 6 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 7 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 7 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 7 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 7 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 8 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 8 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 8 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 8 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 8 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 8 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 8 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 8 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 9 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 9 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 9 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 9 Superior Court |
||
|
New Jersey Vicinage 9 Superior Court |
Judicial selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in New Jersey
| Judicial selection in New Jersey | |
 | |
| New Jersey Supreme Court | |
| Method: | Gubernatorial appointment |
| Term: | Initial term of 7 years; until age 70 upon reappointment |
| New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division | |
| Method: | Gubernatorial appointment |
| Term: | Initial term of 7 years; until age 70 upon reappointment |
| New Jersey Superior Courts | |
| Method: | Gubernatorial appointment |
| Term: | Initial term of 7 years; until age 70 upon reappointment |
Judicial selection refers to the process used to select judges for courts. At the state level, methods of judicial selection vary substantially in the United States, and in some cases between different court types within a state. There are six primary types of judicial selection: partisan and nonpartisan elections, the Michigan method, assisted appointment, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative elections. To read more about how these selection methods are used across the country, click here.
This article covers how state court judges are selected in New Jersey, including:
- New Jersey Supreme Court,
- New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division,
- New Jersey Superior Courts, and
- Limited jurisdiction courts
As of April 2025, judges for all courts in New Jersey except for New Jersey Municipal Courts were selected through the gubernatorial appointment method, where the governor directly selects judges. Judges for municipal courts serving a single municipality were appointed by the mayor or governing body of the municipality.[1][2]
New Jersey's judicial selection process includes the practice of senatorial courtesy in confirming judicial appointments, meaning that senators will not confirm a nominee for judicial office if the senators from the nominee's home district do not approve. It is also traditional for the governor to appoint a judge of the same political affiliation as the vacating judge, aside from the chief justice of the supreme court, who has traditionally belonged to the party of the governor making the appointment.[3]
Click here to notify us of changes to judicial selection methods in this state.
| Appellate state court selection in the United States, by general selection method[4] |
|---|
|
|
| State courts and their selection methods across the U.S., including the District of Columbia[4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Supreme Court (of 53)[5] | Courts of Appeal (of 46) | Trial Courts (of 147) |
| Partisan elections (PE) | 8 | 6 | 39 |
| Nonpartisan elections (NPE) | 13 | 16 | 34 |
| Legislative elections (LE) | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Gubernatorial appointment of judges (GA) | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Assisted appointment (AA) | 22 | 18 | 46 |
| Combination or other | 3[6] | 1[7] | 17[8] |
Articles about Christie's nominees
- Justice Hoens says goodbye, October 8, 2013
- NJ Senate Judiciary Committee rejects Supreme Court nominee, June 1, 2012
- NJ Supreme Court nominee doesn't make it out of committee, March 23, 2012
- Supreme Weekly: Trouble in New Jersey and disciplinary actions in the states, February 3, 2012
- Two Supreme Court justices nominated in New Jersey, January 24, 2012
- Supreme Weekly: News from Alabama, New Jersey and Wisconsin, June 30, 2011
- Seats shuffling on New Jersey Supreme Court, June 13, 2011
- Supreme Weekly: Vacancies and cases, June 2, 2011
- Supreme Weekly: This week in the east, May 5, 2011
- Governor Christie nominates ten judges for New Jersey courts, January 18, 2011
- Justice Rivera-Soto will not seek renomination in 2011, January 4, 2011
- New Jersey Supreme Court Justice goes on strike, December 13, 2010
- Proposed amendment to set deadline for Senate judicial confirmations, September 22, 2010
- Judge Stern temporarily appointed to New Jersey Supreme Court, September 9, 2010
- Judicial Advisory Panel resigns in New Jersey, June 3, 2010
- New Jersey governor nominates attorney over incumbent for Supreme Court, May 3, 2010
State profile
| Demographic data for New Jersey | ||
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 8,935,421 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 7,354 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 68.3% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 13.5% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 9% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 19% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 88.6% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 36.8% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $72,093 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 12.7% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in New Jersey. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in New Jersey
New Jersey voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, two are located in New Jersey, accounting for 0.97 percent of the total pivot counties.[9]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. New Jersey had one Retained Pivot County and one Boomerang Pivot County, accounting for 0.55 and 4.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.
More New Jersey coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in New Jersey
- United States congressional delegations from New Jersey
- Public policy in New Jersey
- Endorsers in New Jersey
- New Jersey fact checks
- More...
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ New Jersey Courts, "The New Jersey Courts | A guide to the judicial process," accessed August 27, 2021
- ↑ New Jersey Courts, "Qualifications to Become a Municipal Court Judge," accessed August 27, 2021
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Judicial Selection in the States: New Jersey | Overview," accessed August 27, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection," archived February 2, 2015
- ↑ Both Oklahoma and Texas have two state supreme courts: one for civil matters and one for criminal matters.
- ↑ Michigan and Ohio use nonpartisan general elections with candidates selected through partisan primaries or conventions. In the District of Columbia, judges are selected in the same manner as federal judges.
- ↑ Judges of the North Dakota Court of Appeals are appointed on an as-needed basis by the supreme court justices.
- ↑ Most courts that use combination/alternative methods (for example, mayoral appointment) are local level courts. These courts are often governed by selection guidelines that are unique to their specific region.
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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
