---
title: "Anthony Merlino | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/anthony-merlino-nj-ocean"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Anthony Merlino

New Jersey Superior Court, Ocean Vicinage · Civil Judge

## Profile

- Court: New Jersey Superior Court, Ocean Vicinage
- State: New Jersey
- Role: Civil Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### media access and electronic devices

Scope: statewide

New Jersey statewide Supreme Court guidelines govern media access and electronic devices in courtrooms; recording, photography, broadcasting, and transmission require compliance with the published approval process and courtroom restrictions.

Evidence excerpt: Transmission, broadcasting, recording and/or photographing is prohibited at any proceeding closed by court order, statute, or Rule of Court.

[New Jersey Courts](https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2024/07/n240723a.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.njcourts.gov/public/directories/judges/all)
- [Official roster](https://www.njcourts.gov/public/directories/judges/all)
- [New Jersey Courts official judicial roster](https://www.njcourts.gov/public/directories/judges/all)
- [New Jersey Courts](https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2024/07/n240723a.pdf)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Pre‐judicial career: Law clerk to NJ Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz (2002–2003) Associate at Blank Rome LLP in Cherry Hill (2003–2009) Assistant Township Attorney in Toms River since 2009
- Superior Court judge assigned to Vicinage 14 (Ocean County) and, as of July 1, 2025, serves in the Ocean County Civil Division
- Merlino’s appointment replaced retiring Judge Patricia E. Carney, who served in Ocean County Family Court from 2018 to 2021.

### Education



### Additional information

- On June 2, 2025, the NJ Courts issued an order reassigning him to the Civil Division of the Superior Court in Ocean County (Vicinage 14), effective July 1, 2025
- Appointed by Governor Phil Murphy on March 18, 2024, to the New Jersey Superior Court, Vicinage 14, in Ocean County.
- Sworn in on April 9, 2024, for a seven‐year term.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [New Jersey Courts](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-c9ef48d54ca091cafd206659) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2024/07/n240723a.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.