By Catherine DiBona
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Students and faculty gathered in Madison Hall Room 110 on Nov. 18 to listen to a seminar hosted by three New Jersey Superior Court judges as they spoke on current criminal justice reforms.
Judge Gwendolyn Blue, Judge Francisco Dominguez and Judge Charles Dortch shared their challenges and hopes for the future of the criminal justice system during the Justice in Action event.
First to speak was Blue. She was the first in her family to go to law school and become a judge and has served on the bench for 17 years. Blue currently serves in Camden County’s criminal division. From beginning in civil clerkship, she progressed her career by advocating for victims of police brutality. One of her police brutality cases from 1987 reached the United States Supreme Court, which inspired her to dedicate her career to reforming the criminal justice system.
In 2017, she and other local judges transformed New Jersey into a hold-and-release state to try to improve the conditions of those convicted of crimes.
All three judges discussed their work to improve the conditions of people in active recovery. In ways such as changing the name of the subsection of courts for those who have committed crimes related to drugs from Drug Court to Recovery Court, their goal is to keep the focus on achieving recovery of those addicted to substances, according to New Jersey Courts.
Next to speak was Dominguez, who serves in the criminal division. His original goal after completing his dual master’s and law degree from Rutgers University was to create laws. He worked for eight years as a lawyer for senators. Dominguez said his key to success was networking, stating, “I recognized having relationships with them (senators) was the most effective way to get things done.”
Last to speak was Dortch, who serves in the family division. Before being nominated as a judge, he was a partner in his own law firm. Since the beginning of his career, he said empathy has been at the forefront of how he works. “We were known for what we did, but I’m most proud of how we treated people with integrity.”
“When I was a lawyer, I thought my job was easy,” said Dortch as he expounded on challenges he faced as a judge after sitting on the bench for nearly 20 years. He was inspired to go into law when he was personally affected by the changes it could create when The Civil Rights Act was passed. This allowed him to be one of the first students to attend an integrated school in Virginia.
He hoped to see future changes in the law, ending his speech by saying, “You certainly can’t change people’s hearts, but you can change the law.”
Dortch ended the seminar by saying, “No one should have to live in fear,” after which audience members lined up to thank the judges.