TOMS RIVER – New Jersey’s Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced on January 10 in a press release that Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr. will lead the Ocean Vicinage, effective Feb. 1.
Hodgson, grew up on Surf City and succeeds Judge Marlene Lynch Ford as the new assignment judge for Ocean County. Ford is retiring after more than two decades on the bench. She served seven years as an assignment judge, according to Rabner’s announcement.
“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.
