Julien Xavier Neals (born January 1, 1965)[1][2] is an American lawyer serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Julien Neals
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
Assumed office
June 22, 2021
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded byBill Martini
Personal details
Born (1965-01-01) January 1, 1965 (age 59)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.[1]
EducationMorehouse College (BA)
Emory University (JD)

Education

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Neals received a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College in 1986. He received a Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law in 1991.[3]

Career

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He began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge Seymour Margulies of the New Jersey Superior Court in Hudson County from 1991 to 1992. From 1992 to 2006 and in 2014, he worked at Chasan, Leyner & Lamparello, P.C., in Secaucus, New Jersey, first as an associate, and later as a partner, where he practiced general litigation in state and federal courts. From 2006 to 2014, he worked for the City of Newark, as Chief Judge of the Newark Municipal Court from 2006 to 2008, as Corporation Counsel from 2008 to 2010, and as Business Administrator from 2010 to 2014. From January 2015 until his confirmation, he served as County Counsel for Bergen County.[3]

Federal judicial service

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Expired nomination to district court under Obama

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On February 26, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Neals to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, to the seat vacated by Judge Faith S. Hochberg, who retired on March 6, 2015.[4] He received a hearing before the Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2015.[5] On November 5, 2015, his nomination was favorably reported out of committee by voice vote.[6] However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to schedule the nomination for a Senate vote. The nomination expired on January 3, 2017, with the end of the 114th Congress.[7]

Renomination to district court under Biden

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On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to renominate Neals to serve as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.[8] On April 19, 2021, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Neals to the seat vacated by Judge Bill Martini, who assumed senior status on February 10, 2015.[9] Neals was recommended by Senator Cory Booker.[10] On April 28, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[11] On May 20, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 16–6 vote.[12] On June 7, 2021, the United States Senate invoked cloture on Neals' nomination by a 66–28 vote.[13] On June 8, 2021, his nomination was confirmed by a 66–33 vote.[14][15] He received his judicial commission on June 22, 2021.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  2. ^ Voruganti, Harsh (April 21, 2021). "Julien Neals – Nominee to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey". The Vetting Room. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  3. ^ a b ""President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts" White House, February 26, 2015". 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  4. ^ ""Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" White House, February 26, 2015". 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  5. ^ ""Nominations", United States Senate Judiciary Committee, September 30, 2015". Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  6. ^ "United States Senate Judiciary Committee: Results of Executive Business Meeting – November 5, 2015" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  7. ^ Watkin, Morgan (June 8, 2021). "Mitch McConnell blocked an Obama judicial nominee but couldn't pull it off a second time". Courier-Journal. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  8. ^ "President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate 11 Judicial Candidates". The White House. March 30, 2021. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021.
  9. ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate". The White House. April 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Sammon, Alexander (February 24, 2023). "The Curious Case of Cory Booker's Judicial Appointments". Slate – via slate.com.
  11. ^ "Nominations | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov. 28 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – May 20, 2021, Senate Judiciary Committee" (PDF).
  13. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Julien Xavier Neals to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey)". United States Senate. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  14. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Julien Xavier Neals to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey)". United States Senate. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  15. ^ "Statement by President Joe Biden on the First Confirmations of His Judicial Nominees". The White House. June 8, 2021.
  16. ^ Julien Neals at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
2021–present
Incumbent