--- title: "Shantika Dorsey | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/shantika-dorsey-nj-ocean" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Shantika Dorsey New Jersey Superior Court, Ocean Vicinage · Family Judge ## Profile - Court: New Jersey Superior Court, Ocean Vicinage - State: New Jersey - Role: Family Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Sworn in on January 26, 2026 in Toms River by Superior Court Judge Wendel Daniels, who had previously supervised her as his law clerk - Superior Court of New Jersey judge assigned to the Ocean County Family Division (Vicinage 14) and was formally sworn in as the Ocean Vicinage’s first African American female judge in January 2026 - Superior Court Judge in the Ocean Vicinage of New Jersey, sworn in on January 26, 2026, to the Family Division, marking a historic milestone as the Ocean Vicinage’s first female African American judge - Formally sworn in in Toms River, New Jersey, by Superior Court Judge Wendel Daniels, who had earlier supervised her as his law clerk ### Education ### Additional information - Joined by family, friends, and other judges, including Assignment Judge Francis Hodgson - The event was attended by family, friends, and other judges, among them Assignment Judge Francis Hodgson - The ceremony marked a historic milestone — the first time the Ocean Vicinage’s first African American judge administered the oath to its first female African American judge. - Daniels praised her legal skill, professionalism, and character, and noted the ceremony’s significance as the first time the Ocean Vicinage’s first African American judge administered the oath to its first female African American judge - , public reports highlight that Dorsey’s judicial career began with legal clerkship work, which led to her appointment to the bench - Her appointment is notable for its representation and diversity within the New Jersey judiciary, as well as for the symbolic weight of the oath being administered by the Ocean Vicinage’s first African American judge - While the official profiles do not detail her prior legal career, her appointment and the ceremonial remarks highlight her legal skill, professionalism, and leadership. - Her initial judicial assignment was to the Ocean County Family Division, effective upon taking the oath of office - The New Jersey Courts official roster confirms her active status and jurisdiction - She is a member of the New Jersey Judiciary and is subject to the state’s judicial conduct and procedural rules - Official judicial roster and biographical details ## 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) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/shantika-dorsey-nj-ocean", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/shantika-dorsey-nj-ocean", "name": "Shantika Dorsey | KnowJudges", "description": "Shantika Dorsey, New Jersey Superior Court, Ocean Vicinage. 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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.