History of the NJDC Courts

  • David Brearley named first district judge.
    David Brearley named first district judge.
  • December 22, 1789, Judge Brearley convenes first court session.
    December 22, 1789, Judge Brearley convenes first court session.
  • December 20, 1790, Judge Robert Morris confirmed to replace Judge Brearley.
    December 20, 1790, Judge Robert Morris confirmed to replace Judge Brearley.
  • William Pennington appointed to federal bench.
    William Pennington appointed to federal bench.
  • Bonaparte v. Camden tests eminent domain.
  • District Court permanently moves to Trenton.
    District Court permanently moves to Trenton.
  • Goodyear v. Day - Daniel Webster successfully defends patent for vulcanized rubber.
    Goodyear v. Day - Daniel Webster successfully defends patent for vulcanized rubber.
  • The Confederate schooner Etta is condemned in U.S. v. The Etta.
  • Judge John Nixon protects black suffrage in U.S. v. Souders.
    Judge John Nixon protects black suffrage in U.S. v. Souders.
  • First N.J. federal courthouse opens in Trenton.
    First N.J. federal courthouse opens in Trenton.
  • D.N.J. borrows Judges William Butler and Leonard Wales from neighboring districts.
  • Newark's first federal courthouse opens.
    Newark's first federal courthouse opens.
  • Second judgeship authorized - Hon. Joseph Cross.
  • In Feigenspan v. Bodine, Judge John Rellstab upholds constitutionality of Prohibition.
  • Court terms are authorized in Camden.
  • Dipping vanilla ice cream in chocolate is found not patentable in Eskimo Pie v. Levous.
  • John Boyd Davis is the first judge assigned to Camden.
    John Boyd Davis is the first judge assigned to Camden.
  • Judge William Clark finds 18th Amendment unconstitutional.
    Judge William Clark finds 18th Amendment unconstitutional.
  • First U.S. probation officer, Edgar Dobbins, officially named.
  • New federal courthouses open in Newark and Camden, left.
    New federal courthouses open in Newark and Camden, left.
  • New courthouse opens in Trenton.
    New courthouse opens in Trenton.
  • Schlitz v. Krueger - Newark's Krueger Brewery owns "Taste Tells" trademark.
  • Judge Guy Fake sends Lady Justice statue to museum in Washington.
  • Jury convicts nine of being unregistered agents of Nazi Germany.
  • Referees in bankruptcy become full-time officials.
  • Judge Guy Fake becomes first chief judge.
    Judge Guy Fake becomes first chief judge.
  • Judge Anthony T. Augelli is first foreign-born judge in the district.
    Judge Anthony T. Augelli is first foreign-born judge in the district.
  • Former Newark Mayor Hugh Addonizio convicted of extortion.
  • Michael Keller, Jr. named first magistrate in the district.
  • In YWCA v. Kugler, court holds woman has constitutional right to terminate pregnancy.
  • Roger Lowenstein becomes the first federal public defender.
  • Judge Clarkson Fisher presides over the Camden 28 trial.
    Judge Clarkson Fisher presides over the Camden 28 trial.
  • Referees in bankruptcy officially become judges; first bankruptcy clerk is hired.
    Referees in bankruptcy officially become judges; first bankruptcy clerk is hired.
  • Judge Anne E. Thompson is first African American and first female appointed to the district.
    Judge Anne E. Thompson is first African American and first female appointed to the district.
  • Judge Vincent Commisa becomes first chief judge of N.J. Bankruptcy Court.
    Judge Vincent Commisa becomes first chief judge of N.J. Bankruptcy Court.
  • Judge H. Lee Sarokin frees Rubin "Hurricane" Carter.
    Judge H. Lee Sarokin frees Rubin "Hurricane" Carter.
  • U.S. v. Accetturo, the longest trial in D.N.J. history (21 months), ends in acquittal.
  • Magistrates officially become magistrate judges.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building & Courthouse in Newark opens.
    Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building & Courthouse in Newark opens.
  • Clarkson S. Fisher Courthouse in Trenton opens.
  • Mitchell H. Cohen Courthouse in Camden opens.
    Mitchell H. Cohen Courthouse in Camden opens.
  • Electronic filing comes to the Bankruptcy Court.
  • Electronic filing comes to the District Court.