First Black woman elected as an assignment Judge in NJ’s court system

Monmouth County, NJ – Judge Lisa Thornton will be the first Black woman to serve as an assignment judge in the state’s court system.

Judge Lisa Thornton Makes History as assignment judge

Thornton will replace Assignment Judge Lawrence Lawson, who is retiring on Sept. 1. Lawson has held the position since 1993.

Thornton tells the Asbury Park Press there have been many talented Black women before her and hopes that the state continues to make the judiciary even more inclusive.

The 50-year-old was nominated to the bench by Gov. Jon Corzine and was confirmed in 2008.

Thornton, a native of Long Branch, NJ, earned her law degree from Rutgers-Newark in 1992 while working for Prudential Financial. She obtained a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University’s Douglass College in 1986. She was a municipal court judge in Neptune from 1999 to 2001.

Photo Credit : APP.com