As discussed here, Judges Karen Suter and Francis Vernoia have been serving temporarily on the Appellate Division since October 19, 2015. Their temporary appointments were scheduled to end on December 27, 2015. Today, Chief Justice Rabner announced that both judges will be elevated to the Appellate Division as of December 28, 2015.
Judge Suter has served in the Civil and Family Divisions in Burlington County since 2001. Her work includes service as Presiding Judge of General Equity. Before taking the bench, Judge Suter was Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, and had been a Deputy Attorney General, representing that Department and others, for seventeen years. Both her undergraduate and law degrees are from Rutgers-Camden.
Judge Vernoia has been on the bench in Monmouth County since 2010, in the Criminal and Family Divisions. Before his elevation, he was in private practice with the law firm of Genova, Burns & Vernoia, handling complex commercial litigation. Prior to that, Judge Vernoia was an Assistant Prosecutor in the Essex County Prosecutor’s office, and began his legal career as an associate at the law firm of Zazzali, Zazzali & Whipple. Judge Vernoia got his undergraduate degree from LaSalle College and his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.
A warm welcome to Judges Suter and Vernoia!