Toms River Assistant Attorney Confirmed As Superior Court Judge

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Anthony Merlino, Toms River's assistant township attorney, has been confirmed as a Superior Court judge.

Merlino was confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate on Monday. He initially was nominated by Gov. Phil Murphy in November 2023, and re-nominated in January after the new Legislature was sworn into office.

He is slated to replace retiring Superior Court Judge Patricia E. Carney, who was on the bench in Family Court in Ocean County from January 2018 through January 2021, when she was transferred to Hunterdon County.

Merlino said he is scheduled to be sworn in on April 9 for a seven-year term.

Merlino, who has been an attorney for 20 years, has worked for Toms River since 2009. He started his law career as a law clerk to former New Jersey State Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz during the 2002-2003 court session, according to his LinkedIn page.

He also was an associate for the law firm of Blank Rome in Cherry Hill from 2003 until he went to work for Toms River. That firm represented corporate clients in legal matters against government entities.

He is a 1995 graduate of Toms River High School North and earned his law degree in 2002 from Seton Hall University, where he was the valedictorian of his class, according to his LinkedIn profile.