New Jersey Courts

Bergen Vicinage Ombudsman Joy Shea graduated from the Institute for Court Management at a ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., last week. Shea delivered a speech as class spokesperson and completed a research project on public trust in state courts. Joy joins approximately 1,300 individuals from across the country who have completed the program and earned the Fellow of the Institute for Court Management designation.

The Essex Vicinage in collaboration with Essex County recently held a dedication ceremony for its new, 267,000-square-foot family courthouse, named in honor of late Sen. Wynona Lipman, the first African American woman to serve in the New Jersey Senate. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, Assignment Judge Sheila Venable, and Sen. Lipman's daughter Karen Lipman were among the speakers. The state-of-the-art facility, which includes 22 courtrooms and is designed to foster a calm, cooperative environment for families, will replace the family court facilities in the Robert N. Wilentz Justice Complex in Newark. The courthouse will open to the public later this year.

#onthemove #njcourts

Union Vicinage employees interacted with three therapy dogs from Creature Comfort Pet Therapy recently as part of the vicinage’s ongoing effort to support the mental health and well-being of its employees. After their lunchtime visit with the dogs, participants reported more connected and uplifted. 

Frank DeRienzo and Thomas Fennelly were sworn in as Superior Court judges for the Morris/Sussex Vicinage by Assignment Judge Stuart A. Minkowitz on July 1 and 7, respectively. Both judges have been assigned to the Family Division in Morris County.

#onthemove #njcourts

This month, we highlight Melissa Underwood, a Court Services Supervisor at the Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Vicinage. "A Closer Look" is a video series that highlights vicinage and central office staff members who were nominated by their supervisors for demonstrating excellence in providing critical services to the public.

Twelve participants graduated from the Union Vicinage’s Recovery Court program last week after meeting the program’s rigorous requirements. Recovery Court Judge Dara Aquila Govan presided over the ceremony, which recognized the graduates’ accomplishments in front of family, friends and supporters.