A panel of in-the-know bar and government leaders helped to demystify the process of becoming a judicial nominee in New Jersey, particularly for potential candidates of historically underrepresented communities.
“When this is over, you’ll know more about the process than anyone who hasn’t already gone through it,” said Fruqan Mouzon, who moderated the panel.
The conversation, at the NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City Wednesday, featured a variety of perspectives, including the roles of affinity bar associations, the NJSBA, elected leaders, legislative staff, the governor’s office, and more.
The panel addressed questions like: How much does it matter who you know? What kinds of things can get you eliminated from the process? What is the process?
There are several steps in the process, said Valentina M. DiPippo, appointments counsel for Gov. Phil Murphy. Candidates who eventually go to the Senate for a vote must complete a questionnaire, be reviewed by a judicial advisory panel, have a State Police background check and ethics check, and be reviewed by the NJSBA's Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee. The process can take as little as six weeks to several months or even years.
The panel also included retired Assignment Judge Julio Mendez, Nina D. Bonner, Senator Anthony M. Bucco, and Maria P. Vallejo. The program was cosponsored by the Association’s Special Committee on Racial Equity in the Law.