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).

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 The Judiciary Act of 1801 was repealed on March 8, 1802 and New Jersey was re-established as a single district court.

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. Since March 2026, the United States attorney for the District of New Jersey is Robert Frazer.

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 and Frank R. Lautenberg Post Office and Courthouse in Newark, and Clarkson S. Fisher Building & U.S. Courthouse in Trenton.

Current judges

As of May 31, 2024[update]:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
ActiveChiefSenior
77Chief JudgeRenée Marie BumbCamden19602006–present2023–present—G.W. Bush
80District JudgeSusan D. WigentonNewark19622006–present——G.W. Bush
81District JudgeClaire C. CecchiNewark19642011–present——Obama
82District JudgeEsther SalasNewark19682011–present——Obama
84District JudgeMichael A. ShippTrenton19652012–present——Obama
85District JudgeMadeline Cox ArleoNewark19632014–present——Obama
87District JudgeBrian R. MartinottiTrenton19612016–present——Obama
88District JudgeJulien NealsNewark19652021–present——Biden
89District JudgeZahid QuraishiTrenton19752021–present——Biden
90District JudgeChristine O'HearnCamden19692021–present——Biden
91District JudgeKaren M. WilliamsCamden19632021–present——Biden
92District JudgeGeorgette CastnerTrenton19792022–present——Biden
93District JudgeEvelyn PadinNewark19602022–present——Biden
94District JudgeMichael E. FarbiarzNewark19732023–present——Biden
95District JudgeRobert KirschTrenton19662023–present——Biden
96District JudgeJamel K. SemperNewark19812023–present——Biden
97District JudgeEdward S. KielCamden19652024–present——Biden
51Senior JudgeAnne Elise Thompsoninactive19341979–20011994–20012001–presentCarter
54Senior JudgeJoseph H. Rodriguezinactive19301985–1998—1998–presentReagan
62Senior JudgeMary Little Cooperinactive19461992–2011—2011–presentG.H.W. Bush
68Senior JudgeKatharine HaydenNewark19421997–2010—2010–presentClinton
72Senior JudgeBill MartiniNewark19472002–2015—2015–presentG.W. Bush
74Senior JudgeStanley R. CheslerNewark19472002–2015—2015–presentG.W. Bush
79Senior JudgePeter G. Sheridaninactive19502006–2018—2018–presentG.W. Bush
83Senior JudgeKevin McNultyinactive19542012–2023—2023–presentObama

Former judges

#JudgeBorn–diedActive serviceChief JudgeSenior statusAppointed byReason for termination
1David Brearley1745–17901789–1790——Washingtondeath
2Robert Morris1745–18151790–1801 1802–1815——Washington Operation of lawreassignment death
3William Pennington1757–18261815–1826——Madisondeath
4William Rossell1760–18401826–1840——J.Q. Adamsdeath
5Mahlon Dickerson1770–18531840–1841——Van Burenresignation
6Philemon Dickerson1788–18621841–1862——Van Burendeath
7Richard Stockton Field1803–18701863–1870——Lincolnresignation
8John T. Nixon1820–18891870–1889——Grantdeath
9Edward T. Green1837–18961889–1896——B. Harrisondeath
10Andrew Kirkpatrick1844–19041896–1904——Clevelanddeath
11William M. Lanning1849–19121904–1909——T. Rooseveltelevation
12Joseph Cross1843–19131905–1913——T. Rooseveltdeath
13John Rellstab1858–19301909–1928—1928–1930Taftdeath
14Thomas Griffith Haight1879–19421914–1919——Wilsonelevation
15John Warren Davis1867–19451916–1920——Wilsonelevation
16Charles Francis Lynch1884–19421919–1925——Wilsonresignation
17Joseph Lamb Bodine1883–19501920–1929——Wilsonresignation
18William Nelson Runyon1871–19311923–1931——Hardingdeath
19William Clark1891–19571925–1938——Coolidgeelevation
20James William McCarthy1872–19391928–1929——Coolidgeresignation
21Guy Leverne Fake1879–19571929–19511948–19511951–1957Coolidgedeath
22John Boyd Avis1875–19441929–1944——Hooverdeath
23Phillip Forman1895–19781932–19591951–1959—Hooverelevation
24Thomas Glynn Walker1899–19931939–1941——F. Rooseveltresignation
25William Francis Smith1903–19681941–19611959–1961—F. Rooseveltelevation
26Thomas Francis Meaney1888–19681942–1966—1966–1968F. Rooseveltdeath
27Thomas M. Madden1907–19761945–19681961–19681968–1976Trumandeath
28Alfred Egidio Modarelli1898–19571951–1957——Trumandeath
29Richard Hartshorne1888–19751951–1961—1961–1975Trumandeath
30Reynier Wortendyke Jr.1895–19751955–1970—1970–1975Eisenhowerdeath
31Mendon Morrill1902–19611958–1961——Eisenhowerdeath
32Arthur Stephen Lane1910–19971960–1967——Eisenhowerresignation
33Anthony Thomas Augelli1902–19851961–19721968–19721972–1974Kennedyresignation
34James Aloysius Coolahan1903–19861962–19741972–19731974–1986Kennedydeath
35Robert Shaw1907–19721962–1972——Kennedydeath
36Mitchell Harry Cohen1904–19911962–19741973–19741974–1991Kennedydeath
37Lawrence Whipple1910–19831967–19781974–19781978–1983L. Johnsondeath
38George Herbert Barlow1921–19791969–19791978–1979—Nixondeath
39Leonard I. Garth1921–20161969–1973——Nixonelevation
40Clarkson Sherman Fisher1921–19971970–19871979–19871987–1997Nixondeath
41John Joseph Kitchen1911–19731970–1973——Nixondeath
42Frederick Bernard Lacey1920–20171971–1986——Nixonretirement
43Vincent P. Biunno1916–19911973–1982—1982–1991Nixondeath
44Herbert Jay Stern1936–present1973–1987——Nixonresignation
45Henry Curtis Meanor1929–20081974–1983——Nixonresignation
46John F. Gerry1925–19951974–19941987–19941994–1995Forddeath
47Stanley Brotman1924–20141975–1990—1990–2014Forddeath
48Harold Arnold Ackerman1928–20091979–1994—1994–2009Carterdeath
49Dickinson Debevoise1924–20151979–1994—1994–2015Carterdeath
50H. Lee Sarokin1928–20231979–1994——Carterelevation
52John Winslow Bissell1940–present1982–20052001–2005—Reaganretirement
53Maryanne Trump Barry1937–20231983–1999——Reaganelevation
55Robert Cowen1930–present1985–1987——Reaganelevation
56Garrett Brown Jr.1943–present1985–20122005–20122012Reaganretirement
57Alfred James Lechner Jr.1948–present1986–2001——Reaganresignation
58Nicholas H. Politan1935–20121987–2002——Reaganretirement
59Alfred M. Wolin1932–present1987–2000—2000–2004Reaganretirement
60John C. Lifland1933–present1988–2001—2001–2007Reaganretirement
61William G. Bassler1938–present1991–2005—2005–2006G.H.W. Bushretirement
63Joseph Eron Irenas1940–20151992–2002—2002–2015G.H.W. Bushdeath
64Jerome B. Simandle1949–20191992–20172012–20172017–2019G.H.W. Bushdeath
65William H. Walls1932–20191994–2005—2005–2019Clintondeath
66Stephen Orlofsky1944–present1995–2003——Clintonresignation
67Joseph A. Greenaway Jr.1957–present1996–2010——Clintonelevation
69Faith S. Hochberg1950–present1999–2015——Clintonretirement
70Joel A. Pisano1949–20212000–2015——Clintonretirement
71Dennis M. Cavanaugh1947–present2000–2014——Clintonretirement
73Jose L. Linares1953–present2002–20192017–2019—G.W. Bushretirement
75Robert B. Kugler1950–present2002–2018—2018–2024G.W. Bushretirement
76Freda L. Wolfson1954–present2002–20232019–2023—G.W. Bushretirement
78Noel Lawrence Hillman1956–present2006–2022—2022–2024G.W. Bushretirement
86John Michael Vazquez1970–present2016–2023——Obamaresignation

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

Seat 1
Seat 1 Seat established on September 24, 1789 by 1 Stat. 73 Brearley 1789–1790 Morris 1790–1801 Seat abolished on February 13, 1801 by 2 Stat. 89 Seat reestablished on March 8, 1802 by 2 Stat. 132 Morris 1802–1815 Pennington 1816–1826 Rossell 1826–1840 M. Dickerson 1840–1841 P. Dickerson 1841–1862 Field 1863–1870 Nixon 1870–1889 Green 1890–1896 Kirkpatrick 1896–1904 Lanning 1904–1909 Rellstab 1909–1928 McCarthy 1928–1929 Fake 1929–1951 Hartshorne 1951–1961 Cohen 1962–1974 Brotman 1975–1990 Bassler 1991–2005 Hillman 2006–2022 Farbiarz 2023–presentSeat 2 Seat established on March 3, 1905 by 33 Stat. 987 Cross 1905–1913 Haight 1914–1919 Lynch 1919–1925 Clark 1925–1938 Walker 1939–1941 Meaney 1942–1966 Whipple 1967–1978 Sarokin 1979–1994 Hayden 1997–2010 Salas 2011–presentSeat 3 Seat established on April 11, 1916 by 39 Stat. 48 Davis 1916–1920 Bodine 1920–1929 Avis 1929–1944 Madden 1945–1968 Garth 1969–1973 Stern 1973–1987 Politan 1987–2002 Wolfson 2002–2023 Kirsch 2023–presentSeat 4 Seat established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 (temporary) Runyon 1923–1931 Seat made permanent on May 10, 1932 by 47 Stat. 161 Forman 1932–1959 Lane 1960–1967 Barlow 1969–1979 Ackerman 1979–1994 Walls 1994–2005 Bumb 2006–present
Seat established on September 24, 1789 by 1 Stat. 73
Brearley1789–1790
Morris1790–1801
Seat abolished on February 13, 1801 by 2 Stat. 89
Seat reestablished on March 8, 1802 by 2 Stat. 132
Morris1802–1815
Pennington1816–1826
Rossell1826–1840
M. Dickerson1840–1841
P. Dickerson1841–1862
Field1863–1870
Nixon1870–1889
Green1890–1896
Kirkpatrick1896–1904
Lanning1904–1909
Rellstab1909–1928
McCarthy1928–1929
Fake1929–1951
Hartshorne1951–1961
Cohen1962–1974
Brotman1975–1990
Bassler1991–2005
Hillman2006–2022
Farbiarz2023–present
Seat 2
Seat established on March 3, 1905 by 33 Stat. 987
Cross1905–1913
Haight1914–1919
Lynch1919–1925
Clark1925–1938
Walker1939–1941
Meaney1942–1966
Whipple1967–1978
Sarokin1979–1994
Hayden1997–2010
Salas2011–present
Seat 3
Seat established on April 11, 1916 by 39 Stat. 48
Davis1916–1920
Bodine1920–1929
Avis1929–1944
Madden1945–1968
Garth1969–1973
Stern1973–1987
Politan1987–2002
Wolfson2002–2023
Kirsch2023–present
Seat 4
Seat established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 (temporary)
Runyon1923–1931
Seat made permanent on May 10, 1932 by 47 Stat. 161
Forman1932–1959
Lane1960–1967
Barlow1969–1979
Ackerman1979–1994
Walls1994–2005
Bumb2006–present
Seat 5
Seat 5 Seat established on March 24, 1940 by 54 Stat. 219 (temporary) Seat made permanent on December 22, 1944 by 58 Stat. 887 Smith 1941–1961 Shaw 1962–1972 Biunno 1973–1982 Bissell 1982–2005 Wigenton 2006–presentSeat 6 Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493 Modarelli 1951–1957 Morrill 1958–1961 Coolahan 1962–1974 Gerry 1974–1994 Greenaway, Jr. 1996–2010 Cecchi 2011–presentSeat 7 Seat established on February 10, 1954 by 68 Stat. 8 Wortendyke, Jr. 1955–1970 Fisher 1970–1987 Lifland 1988–2001 Martini 2002–2015 Neals 2021–presentSeat 8 Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 Augelli 1961–1972 Seat abolished on April 1, 1972 (temporary judgeship expired)
Seat established on March 24, 1940 by 54 Stat. 219 (temporary)
Seat made permanent on December 22, 1944 by 58 Stat. 887
Smith1941–1961
Shaw1962–1972
Biunno1973–1982
Bissell1982–2005
Wigenton2006–present
Seat 6
Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493
Modarelli1951–1957
Morrill1958–1961
Coolahan1962–1974
Gerry1974–1994
Greenaway, Jr.1996–2010
Cecchi2011–present
Seat 7
Seat established on February 10, 1954 by 68 Stat. 8
Wortendyke, Jr.1955–1970
Fisher1970–1987
Lifland1988–2001
Martini2002–2015
Neals2021–present
Seat 8
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Augelli1961–1972
Seat abolished on April 1, 1972 (temporary judgeship expired)
Seat 9
Seat 9 Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 Kitchen 1970–1973 Meanor 1974–1983 Barry 1983–1999 Pisano 2000–2015 Vazquez 2016–2023 Semper 2023–presentSeat 10 Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 (temporary) Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 8 on April 1, 1972 Lacey 1971–1986 Lechner, Jr. 1986–2001 Linares 2002–2019 Castner 2022–presentSeat 11 Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 Debevoise 1979–1994 Orlofsky 1995–2003 Sheridan 2006–2018 Quraishi 2021–presentSeat 12 Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 Thompson 1979–2001 Chesler 2002–2015 Martinotti 2016–present
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Kitchen1970–1973
Meanor1974–1983
Barry1983–1999
Pisano2000–2015
Vazquez2016–2023
Semper2023–present
Seat 10
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 (temporary)
Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 8 on April 1, 1972
Lacey1971–1986
Lechner, Jr.1986–2001
Linares2002–2019
Castner2022–present
Seat 11
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Debevoise1979–1994
Orlofsky1995–2003
Sheridan2006–2018
Quraishi2021–present
Seat 12
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Thompson1979–2001
Chesler2002–2015
Martinotti2016–present
Seat 13
Seat 13 Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 Rodriguez 1985–1998 Hochberg 1999–2015 Padin 2022–presentSeat 14 Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 Cowen 1985–1987 Wolin 1987–2000 Cavanaugh 2000–2014 Arleo 2014–presentSeat 15 Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333 Brown, Jr. 1985–2012 McNulty 2012–2023 Kiel 2024–presentSeat 16 Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Cooper 1992–2011 Shipp 2012–present
Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Rodriguez1985–1998
Hochberg1999–2015
Padin2022–present
Seat 14
Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Cowen1985–1987
Wolin1987–2000
Cavanaugh2000–2014
Arleo2014–present
Seat 15
Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Brown, Jr.1985–2012
McNulty2012–2023
Kiel2024–present
Seat 16
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Cooper1992–2011
Shipp2012–present
Seat 17
Seat 17 Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Irenas 1992–2002 Kugler 2002–2018 O'Hearn 2021–presentSeat 18 Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Simandle 1992–2017 Williams 2021–present
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Irenas1992–2002
Kugler2002–2018
O'Hearn2021–present
Seat 18
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Simandle1992–2017
Williams2021–present

List of U.S. attorneys

See also

External links