New Judge Named To Lead Ocean County Superior Court

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Ocean County will have a new assignment judge beginning Feb. 1, as Francis R. Hodgson Jr. has been named to succeed Marlene Lynch Ford.

Ford is retiring after more than 24 years on the bench, including the last seven as the county's assignment judge, the top position in the Ocean County court system.

Hodgson was named to the post by New Jersey Chief Justice Stuart Rabner.

"We congratulate Judge Ford on a remarkable career that encompassed all three branches of government, culminating with her impressive contributions to the judiciary," Rabner said in announcing the appointment. "Judge Hodgson is an exemplary judge with broad experience who is poised to continue the tradition of excellent leadership in the Ocean Vicinage."

Hodgson was appointed to the bench by Gov. Jon Corzine in 2007, and renominated to Superior Court in 2014 by Gov. Chris Christie. Hodgson served in the family division before moving to the criminal division in 2008. He served in the criminal division until 2015, when he was named presiding judge of General Equity.

"I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the hard-working staff and judges of the Ocean Vicinage and am grateful for Chief Justice Rabner’s confidence in my ability to continue to uphold the exceptional reputation of the Judiciary," Hodgson said in a news release about the appointment.

Hodgson earned a bachelor’s degree from Stockton State College and a master’s degree from Monmouth University. He received his law degree from Villanova University. He was a law clerk to Civil Presiding Judge Frank R. Buczynski in the Ocean County courts and practiced law in private practice for a year before joining the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in 1997.