Middletown's First Female Town Judge, Susan Clark, Takes Her Seat

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — At the Monday night Township Committee meeting, Middletown swore in the first female municipal court judge in Middletown's history.

The first female judge is Susan Schroeder Clark, Esq. and she was given the oath of office by Mayor Tony Perry.

Clark was unanimously approved by the Township Committee in February, and she will begin serving on the municipal court this Thursday.

Clark has been a lawyer in practice for more than 24 years. She is a former prosecutor, defense attorney and child advocate. She also serves as the municipal court judge for Tinton Falls and Howell.

“I am humbled by this appointment and appreciate the Township Committee’s support,” said Clark. “It will be my honor to serve Middletown and its residents with the highest level of professionalism, respect and fairness.”

Hon. Clark started her career advocating for victims' rights in the prosecutor’s office, where she took more than 70 cases to trial. She began her legal career in 1994 at the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, where she started in the appeals section and worked her way up to trial team leader.

Clark left the Prosecutor’s Office in 2006 to stay home with her children and worked as a part-time professor at Monmouth University, where she taught both undergraduate and graduate classes in evidence, criminal procedure and advanced criminal justice.

In December of 2007, Ms. Clark started the law firm of Clark & Clark. She handled all types of criminal cases and represented children in juvenile and educational matters. She left the law firm of Clark & Clark in 2015 upon being appointed as a municipal court judge for Tinton Falls and Howell.

She also practices the Susan Clark Law Group as an advocate representing students and adults with special needs with guardianships and school matters.

“It is particularly meaningful that we are swearing in the Honorable Judge Clark during Women’s History Month,” said Mayor Perry. “On behalf of the Township Committee, I welcome her as the first woman to hold the job and look forward to the impact she will make in our community.”