The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee backed Jersey City Department of Recreation and Youth Development Director Lucinda McLaughlin to be a Hudson County Superior Court judge today.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Today in the Senate Judiciary Committee we supported Lucinda McLaughlin as the next Superior Court Judge. The State is fortunate to have her serve on the bench,” state Senator Jon Bramnick (R-21), a Republican candidate for governor who sits on the 11-member committee, wrote on X.
McLaughlin had been serving as the recreation director under Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s administration since August 5th, 2019 and had served as an assistant prosecutor for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office between May 2006 and September 2012.
Fulop, a Democratic candidate for governor, expressed excitement on the possibility of her succeeding Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Arre, who recently retired.
“Congrats Lucinda – We are so happy for you and I know you will be terrific Superior Court Judge but we are also sad to see you leave #JerseyCity govt,” he posted on social media.
“We were lucky to have you for as long as we did and your impact as a Director for our Dept of Rec + Youth Development sets a new high standard of expectations for your successor.”
McLaughlin will still have to clear the full state Senate before she can sit on the bench for a seven-year term. That vote is expected on Thursday.
Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said that McLaughlin will serve out the end of the year as rec director, with the position being a mayoral appointment that requires city council approval – the same for all city directorships.
McLaughlin’s husband, Jamel Semper, was an assistant U.S. attorney before being nominated for a federal judgeship with significant political support in September 2023 before being confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a 55-44(2) vote on November 29th, 2023.
