Julien Xavier Neals

District of New Jersey
	Third Circuit
Judgeships
	Posts: 17
	Judges: 17
	Vacancies: 0
Judges
	Chief: Renee Bumb
	Active judges: ; Madeline Arleo, Renee Bumb, Georgette Castner, Claire Cecchi, Michael Farbiarz, Edward Kiel, Robert Kirsch, Brian R. Martinotti, Julien Xavier Neals, Christine O'Hearn, Evelyn Padin, Zahid Quraishi, Esther Salas, Jamel Semper, Michael Shipp, Susan Wigenton, Karen Williams; Senior judges:; Stanley Chesler, Mary Cooper, Katharine Hayden, Noel Hillman, Robert Kugler, William Martini, Kevin McNulty, Joseph Rodriguez, Peter Sheridan, Anne Thompson

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: Julien Neals
	Court: United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
Progress
	Confirmed 50 days after nomination.
	Nominated: April 19, 2021
	ABA Rating: Well qualified
	Questionnaire: Questionnaire
	Hearing: April 28, 2021
	QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: May 20, 2021
	Confirmed: June 8, 2021
	Vote: 66-33

Julien Xavier Neals is a judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Neals was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on April 19, 2021, and confirmed by the United States Senate on June 8, 2021, by a vote of 66-33.^[1]^[2]^[3] Neals was one of 235 Article III judges nominated by President Joe Biden (D) and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.

The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Prior to his nomination, Neals was a county counsel for Bergen County, New Jersey.^[3]

On February 26, 2015, Neals was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey by President Barack Obama (D).^[4] On January 3, 2017, Neals' nomination was returned to President Obama at the sine die adjournment of the 114th Congress.^[5]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (2021-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On April 19, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Neals to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He was confirmed by a 66-33 vote of the U.S. Senate on June 8, 2021. He received commission on June 22, 2021.^[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Neals on June 8, 2021, on a vote of 66-33.^[6] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Julien Xavier Neals confirmation vote (June 8, 2021)
Party	Yea	Nay	No vote
Democratic	48	0	0
Republican	17	33	0
Independent	1	0	1
Total	66	33	1

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The committee voted to advance Neals' nomination to the full Senate on May 20, 2021.

Nomination

On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Neals to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The president officially nominated Neals on April 19.^[1]^[3]

Neals was nominated to replace Judge William Martini, who assumed senior status on February 10, 2015.^[1]

The American Bar Association rated Neals Well Qualified.^[7] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (2015)

Julien Xavier Neals received a nomination to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on February 26, 2015, from President Barack Obama. On the nomination:

“	I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench. They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Court.^[8]	”
—President Barack Obama^[4]

The American Bar Association rated Neals Unanimously Well Qualified for the nomination.^[9]

Neals' Committee on the Judiciary hearing was held on September 30, 2015, and his nomination was reported to the full Senate on November 5, 2015. On January 3, 2017, Neals' nomination was returned to President Obama at the sine die adjournment of the 114th Congress.^[5]

Education

Neals earned his B.A. from Morehouse College in 1986 and his J.D. from the Emory University School of Law in 1991.^[3]

Professional career

2015-2021: County counsel, Bergen County, New Jersey
2014-2015: Attorney, Chasan Leyner & Lamparello, P.C.
2006-2014: City of Newark

2010-2014:' Business Administrator
2008-2010: Corporation counsel
2006-2008: Chief judge, Newark Municipal Court

1992-2006: Associate, Chasan Leyner & Lamparello, P.C.
1991-1992: Law clerk, Judge Seymour Margulies, New Jersey Vicinage 6^[4]^[10]

Awards and associations

Note: The awards and associations below are listed as they appeared on Neals' 2015 Senate Judiciary questionnaire.

Awards

2014: Gibbons Trendsetter Award
2014: Black History Month Celebration Recognition Award, Essex County Prosecutor's Office
2014: Greater Newark Conservancy Special Recognition Award
2013: Outstanding Public Service Award, Caribbean American Heritage & Cultural Foundation of New Jersey
2011: Pro Bono Leader Award, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
2011: Administrator's Award, Honorable Luis A. Quintana, Councilman at Large, 17th Annual Breakfast
2011: Guest of Honor Award, Newark Firefighters Union
2011: Certificate of Appreciation Walk for Community Empowerment, Urban League of Essex County
2010: Walter A. Lucas Special Merit Award, Essex County Bar Association
2010: Men of Vision, Famous Fathers Famous Sons Recognition, Newark Municipal Council President Mildred C. Crump
2009: New Jersey Business Community Award, Caribbean American Business Association
2008: Flame Award, Second Annual Comprehensive Summer Internship Program, City of Newark Law Department
2008: Inaugural Essence of Inspiration Award, Newark Emergency Services for Families
2008: Recognition Award, Essex County Municipal Court Judges Association
2007: Certificate of Appreciation Annual Men's Career Day, Rutgers University
2007: Benjamin E. Mays Excellence in Community Service Award, United Negro College Fund
2007: Certificate of Special Recognition Career Day, First Avenue School Newark
2007: Certificate of Appreciation Urban League of Essex County Career Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School

Associations

2014: Legislative committee member, New Jersey League of Municipalities
2011-2014: Board member, Newark Downtown District
2010-2011: Trustee, New Jersey State Bar Foundation
2009: Planning committee member, Fugitive Safe Surrender Newark Program, New Jersey
2008-Present: Board of trustees, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

2011-2013: Chairman

2007-2008: Steering committee member, Newark Reentry Legal Services
2002-2006: Trustee, Hudson County Bar Association^[10]

About the court

The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is one of 94 United States district courts. It was established in 1789. The court operates out of three locations, Camden, Newark and Trenton, New Jersey. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, based in downtown Philadelphia at the James Byrne Courthouse.

The Counties of New Jersey (click for larger map)

The District of New Jersey has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.

External links

Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Congress.gov, "PN393 — Julien Xavier Neals — The Judiciary," accessed May 24, 2021
↑ Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Nominations," accessed April 28, 2021
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 The White House, "President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate 11 Judicial Candidates," March 30, 2021
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 The White House, "President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts," February 26, 2015
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 United States Congress, "PN 233 — Julien Xavier Neals — The Judiciary," accessed January 3, 2017
↑ /roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00220 U.S. Senate, "Roll Call Vote 117th Congress - 1st Session: Vote Summary," accessed June 8, 2021
↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III AND ARTICLE IV JUDICIAL NOMINEES 117TH CONGRESS," last updated June 22, 2021
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III Judicial Nominees: 114th Congress," accessed March 11, 2015
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for the Judicial Nominees," accessed April 20, 2015

Political offices
Preceded by -	United States District Court for the District of New Jersey 2021-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	United States District Court for the District of New Jersey	Succeeded by -