Superior Court judge stepping down after less than a year

A young Superior Court judge who has been on the bench for just nine months is resigning, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.

Rahat N. Babar has told the Administrative Office of the Courts that he intends to give up the judgeship he assumed on June 20, 2022, and will take a private sector position.

The first Bangladeshi American to serve on the state court, Babar had been viewed as a potential rising star in the state judiciary.  After an initial seven-year term, Babar could have remained on the bench until 2051.

At age 41, Babar is the fourth-youngest Superior Court Judge and the youngest from the AAPI community.

His unexpected resignation comes when the Superior Court is batting a considerable backlog and a shortage of judges.  Babar has been assigned to Family Court, the traditional starting place for new judges.

Gov. Phil Murphy nominated Babar in February 2022, and the Senate voted unanimously to confirm him in May.

Babar is a former deputy attorney general who oversaw all high-profile litigation for the Governor’s office.  He also served as a special assistant to Attorney General Christopher Porrino and Director of Community Engagement under Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.   He had clerked for Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Myron Steele.

While Babar lives in Camden County, he was nominated for a Mercer County seat.