Dr. Thomas Manahan

Biography

Thomas V. Manahan is a retired judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, serving on the Appellate Division until September 2018. He was appointed to the bench in March 2003 and initially served the Law Division, overseeing civil, criminal, and family law cases. Notably, he was the Criminal and Civil Presiding Judge and played a key role as Chair of the Conference of Criminal Presiding Judges, contributing to judicial reforms in New Jersey. He became Chief Justice of the Appellate Division in 2014, authoring approximately 400 opinions on various legal issues including criminal law, expert testimony, land use, and juvenile rights. Even after retirement, he continues to instruct at the New Jersey Judicial College and acts as a mentor for trial judges. His career includes leadership roles, such as a five-year term as Prosecutor in Union County, where he initiated several crime prevention and racial profiling initiatives. He has a significant background in private legal practice, focusing on diverse areas such as insurance defense and employment law. At Cornell Law School, he teaches courses on critical legal topics, reflecting his extensive judicial experience and legal acumen.

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