NEWS

Jurist Stuart Minkowitz named top judge for Morris, Sussex

Peggy Wright
@PeggyWrightDR

Superior Court Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz, presiding judge of the criminal division for Morris and Sussex counties for the past 30 months, has been chosen to succeed retiring Assignment Judge Thomas L. Weisenbeck to lead the two-county vicinage.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced that Minkowitz will start his duties as assignment judge as of May 28, the day after Weisenbeck steps down from the bench. Appointed in 2005, Weisenbeck has to retire because he turns 70 on May 27, the mandatory age of retirement for judges in New Jersey.

“The Morris/Sussex Vicinage has flourished under Judge Weisenbeck’s leadership. He has excelled as a judge and a leader, and we wish him the best as he reaches his mandatory retirement date,” Rabner said in a statement.

"Judge Minkowitz is a gifted jurist, a strong manager, and a dedicated public servant. I am confident that his skill and wisdom will enable him to lead the vicinage with distinction," Rabner said.

Minkowitz, who was at a conference Thursday and not available for comment, was also a Drug Court judge and handled multiple criminal pleas and trials, including the lengthy sexual abuse trial of former Sussex County journalist Mario Palomo.

Assignment judges -- with the aid of trial court administrators and division managers -- are responsible for all facets of caseload, facility and employee management of their court vicinages.

A graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and Brooklyn Law School, Minkowitz began his career in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in 1992. In 1996, he joined the Hackensack firm of Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard as an associate.

He returned to public service in the U. S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey, working as a civil health care fraud coordinator. He remained in that position until his appointment to the bench by Gov. Jon Corzine. He took the oath of judicial office on Jan. 10, 2008, according to a release from the state Administrative Office of the Courts.

From 1999 until his judicial appointment, Minkowitz served as a captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, first in the United States Army Reserve, and then in the New Jersey Army National Guard. In that role, he conducted legal reviews of administrative actions and policies, acted as legal advisor to administrative hearing boards, and provided legal assistance to soldiers and their families, the release said.

As a judge, Minkowitz served first in the family division, then moved to the criminal division in 2011. He was named presiding judge of the criminal division in December 2012. Since December 2014, he has served as the statewide Megan’s Law coordinator. He also has been a member of the Criminal Division Visitation Team, which reviews and reports on the implementation of criminal division standards and best practices statewide.

His other committee service includes the Conference of Criminal Presiding Judges, the Conference of Drug Court Judges, and a working group to explore technology solutions for judicial work. He has served on the faculty of the annual Judicial College as well as on other judicial education panels.

Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com