John E. Wallace, Jr.

Justice Wallace's career as a jurist spanned over twenty five years. Appointed to the Superior Court of New Jersey in 1984, he was elevated to the Appellate Division in 1992 and nominated and confirmed to the Supreme Court in 2003. While in the Superior Court, Justice Wallace served in the Family, Criminal and Civil Divisions in Gloucester County, as well as the Family Part in Camden County. During his tenure on the bench, Justice Wallace was both well-respected and well-liked. The New York Times described Justice Wallace as "a sound jurist and political moderate who was the court's only African-American." He has served on the New Jersey Supreme Court Task Force for Minority Concerns, the New Jersey Ethics Commission, the Judiciary Advisory Committee on Americans with Disabilities Act, the Supreme Court Special Committee on Matrimonial Litigation, the Appellate Division Rules Committee and he was the Chairman of the Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Admissions. Justice Wallace has received numerous honors from respected civic and legal organizations, including the Medal of Honor from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation; the William J. Brennan, Jr. Citation for Justice from Legal Services of New Jersey; the Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law; the Judge John F. Gerry Award of the Camden County Bar Association; the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey Award; the Van J. Clinton Award from the Garden State Bar Association; and the Law and Justice Distinguished Contribution Award from Rider University. Justice Wallace is a trustee of the Board of Legal Services of New Jersey and of the Board of Kennedy University Hospital. Justice Wallace is a member of the University of Delaware Wall of Fame and member of its Board of Trustees. Justice Wallace continues to enjoy coaching Little League baseball and high school football as he has for decades. He is a member of several Sports Hall of Fame including Gloucester County, Pitman High School, Washington Township High School, and Washington Township Babe Ruth Baseball.