Biden to nominate Castner to federal judgeship

President Joe Biden is expected to nominate Georgette Fries Castner, a partner at a top mid-Atlantic law firm with a stellar reputation in state legal circles, to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge in New Jersey, the New Jersey Globe has leaned.

The 41-year-old Castner, who specializes commercial litigation and white collar investigations at Montgomery McCracken, could be nominated as early as today.

Castner has spent 15 years as a federal and state litigator, and serves on the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Committee on Character and the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury Charges.

A zoning board member in her hometown, Castner worked for the New Jersey Legislature, served as research editor for the Rutgers Law Journal, and was a law clerk to New Jersey Appellate Court Judge Joseph F. Lisa.

She launched her public service career as chief of staff to Assemblyman (now Trenton Mayor) Reed Gusciora and also worked for Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman when she served in the State Assembly.

Castner is the second top judge to emerge from Montgomery McCracken’s roster of partners.  Last year, Gov. Phil Murphy nominated Fabiana Pierre-Louis to serve as an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.

So far, Biden has sent five names to the Senate, none of whom are white men.  He’s selected two Black judges, the state’s first Muslim federal judge, and two women.

Since taking office in January, Biden has filled four of six vacancies. The U.S. Senate confirmed Julien X. Neals and Zahid Quraishi in June, and Christine O’Hearn and Karen Williams in October.

Like the other nominees, Biden made his picks in consultation with New Jersey’s two U.S. Senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker.

Castner’s nomination leaves just one more federal judgeship available in New Jersey.