The New Jersey Supreme Court has seven members: Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and six associate justices. The NJ Supreme Court justices are nominated by the governor, confirmed by the state senate, and serve an initial seven-year term before they can be reappointed to tenure that lasts until the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Who Sits on the Court Right Now
Chief Justice Stuart Rabner has led the court since 2007. Governor Jon Corzine first appointed him after Rabner served as a federal prosecutor and New Jersey Attorney General, and Governor Chris Christie reappointed him with tenure in 2014.1NJ Courts. About the Supreme Court Born in 1960, he can serve until 2030.
The six associate justices, in order of seniority, are:
- Anne M. Patterson, who joined the court in September 2011 after working in private practice and the state Division of Law. Her current term runs through April 2029.2Ballotpedia. Anne Patterson (New Jersey)
- Fabiana Pierre-Louis, sworn in during September 2020 as the first Black woman on the court. She had previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney and was the first woman of color to lead both the Trenton and Camden branch offices.3NJ Courts. Associate Justice Fabiana Pierre-Louis
- Rachel Wainer Apter, confirmed in October 2022 after serving as Director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights. She succeeded Justice Jaynee LaVecchia.4Ballotpedia. New Jersey Supreme Court
- Douglas M. Fasciale, who also joined in October 2022, moving up from the Appellate Division to replace Justice Faustino Fernandez-Vina.4Ballotpedia. New Jersey Supreme Court
- Michael Noriega, sworn in on July 6, 2023. He started as an assistant public defender in Essex County, later ran his own practice, and eventually became a partner at a firm focused on immigration and criminal law.5NJ Courts. Associate Justice Michael Noriega
- John J. Hoffman, the court’s newest member, who took office on October 2, 2024 after Justice Lee A. Solomon reached mandatory retirement.4Ballotpedia. New Jersey Supreme Court
Five justices form a quorum to decide cases.6Ballotpedia. Article VI, New Jersey Constitution
Who Qualifies for the Court
Article VI of the New Jersey Constitution sets two firm requirements. A candidate must have been admitted to the practice of law in New Jersey for at least ten years before appointment.7New Jersey Department of State. 1947 State Constitution A decade at the bar in another state does not satisfy this; it has to be the New Jersey bar. Candidates are also expected to be residents of the state.
How a Justice Gets the Job
The governor nominates. The New Jersey State Senate must confirm. Before a formal nomination goes forward, the New Jersey State Bar Association has historically reviewed candidates and shared its ratings with the governor or the Senate Judiciary Committee, though the association has no official role.8NJ Spotlight News. Explainer – How Do Our Judges Make It to the Bench in New Jersey
After a name is submitted, the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a public hearing and questions the nominee on legal background and judicial philosophy. There is also an unwritten rule called senatorial courtesy: the senator representing the district or county where the nominee lives can effectively stall or block the nomination by withholding approval. The tradition reportedly dates to the mid-1800s and has derailed numerous judicial picks over the years.8NJ Spotlight News. Explainer – How Do Our Judges Make It to the Bench in New Jersey If the committee clears the candidate, the full Senate votes.
How Long Justices Serve
New Jersey does not give its justices lifetime appointments. The first term is seven years. When that term ends, the governor can nominate the justice for reappointment, which again requires Senate confirmation. A reappointed justice receives tenure and can serve during good behavior until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.7New Jersey Department of State. 1947 State Constitution
The reappointment step is where elected officials have real leverage. A governor who dislikes a justice’s record can decline to renominate, and a hostile senate can refuse to confirm. Critics say this pressure undermines judicial independence; supporters say it provides accountability that lifetime appointments lack. The age-70 ceiling then guarantees regular turnover and predictable vacancies.
The Partisan Balance Custom
By longstanding informal tradition, no single party is supposed to hold all seven seats, though nothing in the constitution requires it. New Jersey falls among states that follow customary rather than legally mandated balance rules.9Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia Courts – State Partisanship/Partisan Balance Rules Because the convention is informal, it holds only as long as governors and senators choose to honor it, and it has come under strain when relations between the two branches sour.
What Justices Are Paid
Under the current salary schedule, the Chief Justice earns $234,191.95 a year and each associate justice earns $230,818.10Justia Law. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 2B-2-4 – Judicial Salaries Justices who serve long enough to reach mandatory retirement typically qualify for benefits under the state’s Judicial Retirement System.
Discipline and Removal
Ethics complaints against any New Jersey judge, including a Supreme Court justice, are handled by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct under Court Rule 2:15. The committee can dismiss a complaint, issue private discipline, or file formal charges leading to a public hearing.11NJ Courts. Filing a Judicial Ethics Complaint Public discipline, such as reprimand, censure, suspension, or removal proceedings, can only be imposed by the Supreme Court itself. In practice, that means the court polices its own members.