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Judicial Elections
How Judges Are Chosen in New Jersey
New Jersey Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate, and serve until the mandatory retirement age.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in New Jersey?
- Highest court
- New Jersey Supreme Court — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Governor appoints
- Voters
- Voters have no direct say
- Term
- No fixed term
- To serve again
- Serve to age limit or for life
- 2026 ballot
- No New Jersey Supreme Court seats in 2026
How New Jersey chooses its judges
New Jersey Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate, and serve until the mandatory retirement age.
- Seats: 7 justices on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
- Term: no fixed term after an initial seven-year term.
- Confirmation: appointees must be approved by the State Senate.
- To serve again: Serve to age limit or for life.
- Age rule: Once reappointed, serve until the mandatory retirement age of 70.
- Other courts: Superior Court judges are appointed the same way.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Is the New Jersey Supreme Court on the 2026 ballot?
No — and no other judge is either. New Jersey fills every court by appointment, so judges never appear on the ballot.
Following judicial appointments in New Jersey
With no judicial elections, the public’s say runs through the officials who choose judges: the governor who appoints them and the State Senate, which must approve each appointment. Full details, including how vacancies are filled, are on Ballotpedia’s New Jersey judicial selection page.
For everything else on your ballot, see how to vote in New Jersey.
Federal judges in New Jersey
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. New Jersey’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
New Jersey’s senators: Cory Booker (Democratic) and Andy Kim (Democratic).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
No federal judge for a court in New Jersey has been confirmed by roll-call vote in 2026.
District judges for courts in New Jersey and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in New Jersey as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in New Jersey?
New Jersey Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate, and serve until the mandatory retirement age. Superior Court judges are appointed the same way.
How long is a term on the New Jersey Supreme Court?
There is no fixed term. Once reappointed, serve until the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Is the New Jersey Supreme Court on the 2026 ballot?
No. New Jersey voters do not vote on the New Jersey Supreme Court: its justices are appointed, and they serve until the mandatory retirement age.
Are any judges on the New Jersey ballot?
No. New Jersey fills every court by appointment, so no judge appears on the ballot.
Who appoints federal judges in New Jersey?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. New Jersey's senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in New Jersey
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
New Jersey Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.