Biden picks Semper, Kiel as federal judges

President Joe Biden will nominate Jamel Semper and Edward Kiel as judges of the U.S. District Court today, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.

Semper is the deputy chief of the criminal division at the U.S. Attorney’s office, and Kiel is a federal magistrate judge.  Biden announced his nomination of Semper today, with Kiel expected to follow at a later date.

Both have received the recommendation of New Jersey’s two U.S. Senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Semper and Kiel would replace John Michael Vazquez, who is retiring on Friday, and Kevin McNulty, who will assume senior status on October 31.

The 41-year-old Semper spent more than ten years as a prosecutor in Union and Essex counties before becoming an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2018.  Kiel practiced law with a Hackensack firm and was a member of the Asian American Legal Defense Fund before becoming a magistrate judge.

After Biden’s election, Semper had been short-listed as a candidate for U.S. Attorney and was a finalist for the state attorney general post that went to Matt Platkin in 2022.  He was chief of the Organized Crime and Gangs section in the U.S. Attorney’s office.

“For years, Mr. Semper has served the Garden State with fairness and compassion, dedicating his career to keeping New Jerseyans safe. Thanks to his community-focused approach to law enforcement, he enjoys the strong support of major voices and organizations within New Jersey’s diverse communities of color,” Menendez stated.   “Should he be confirmed, Mr. Semper would further our collective effort to diversify our federal bench and help ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background, have access to equal justice under the law. I look forward to supporting Mr. Semper’s confirmation on the Senate floor and urge my colleagues to do the same.”

Booker called Semper “a highly qualified nominee with a distinguished legal career and years of service to New Jersey at the state and federal levels.”

“I’m confident in his ability to preside over cases fairly and impartially,” Booker said.  “I thank President Biden for nominating Jamel Semper, and I look forward to his hearing before the Judiciary Committee and confirmation by the Senate.”

Gov. Phil Murphy said Semper’s “extensive legal experience, coupled with his commitment to public service, makes him well-qualified and ideally suited for the federal bench.”

“I also want to commend President Biden, Senator Menendez, and Senator Booker for their outstanding selection, which reflects a continuing commitment to filling our federal judicial vacancies with individuals who represent both the breadth of the legal profession and the rich diversity of our state,” Murphy said.  

Rev. Ronald Slaughter, the pastor of the St. James A.M.E. Church in Newark, praised Biden’s pick of Semper as a federal judge.

“Semper has touched all the bases, stayed connected to the community, and remained patient,” said Slaughter.  “I was honored to advocate for him to be given this opportunity.  This is a great day for New Jersey, America, our judiciary, and my community.  Senators Menendez and Booker and President Biden got this one right and I’m grateful.”

Earlier this year, Kiel was a finalist for a seat on the New Jersey Supreme Court before Gov. Phil Murphy picked Michael Noriega.

Working with Menendez and Booker, Biden has already filled eight federal judgeships, with Julien X. Neals, Zahid Quraishi, Christine O’Hearn, Karen Williams, Georgette Castner, Evelyn Padin, Michael Farbiarz, and Robert Kirsch already confirmed.

This story was updated at 12:15 PM with comment from Slaughter, at 4:44 PM with comment from Booker, at 5:54 from Murphy, and at 8:42 PM with comment from Menendez.