User:Hppalm/Siobhan Teare

Siobhan A. Teare is a black American lawyer, judge, and former prosecutor who has practiced law since 1985. Teare, a judge on the Superior Court of New Jersey, sits in the Criminal Division for Essex County. Acting New Jersey Governor Richard Codey appointed her to the Superior Court of New Jersey in 2005, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie re-appointed her with tenure in 2012. During her career, Teare has served as corporate counsel for New Jersey municipalities and in leadership roles for the Garden State Bar Association, the state association of black American lawyers. She has received several awards for her service, including the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Bar Association.

Early Life and education
Teare graduated from Morristown-Beard School in Morristown, NJ in 1977. She has served on the school's Board of Trustees for several years and served as the Board's Vice President. In 2010, Teare addressed the student body and faculty of Morristown-Beard School at a morning meeting celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy. Morristown-Beard School awarded her their Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012.

After high school, Teare completed her bachelor's degree in history and political science at Tufts University in 1981. In 1984, she received her juris doctorate from Rutgers School of Law–Newark, a campus of Rutgers University in Newark, NJ. The following year, Teare received admittance to the New Jersey Bar Association. She then clerked for Superior Court judge Harry H. Hazelwood Jr.

Bar association leadership
Teare served as president and vice president of the Garden State Bar Association. Recognizing her service, the Garden State Bar Association awarded Teare their Van Clinton Award in 2008. She has also served as treasurer and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Essex County Bar Association.

Judicial experience and judicial committee service
Teare served in the Civil Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey. While residing in that position, she presided over cases for special civil part,  tenant/landlord matters, district court, and pre-trial motions. Teare also served as a Drug Court Judge for the Criminal Division and as a judge in the Family Division. While residing in the latter position, she presided over domestic violence and juvenile cases.

Before joining the Superior Court, Teare serve on a committee for the New Jersey Supreme Court that oversaw matters concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act. She also served on the New Jersey Supreme Court's Arbitration Advisory Committee. In 2011, Teare served on the conference planning committee for the National Association of Woman Judges' conference in Newark, New Jersey.

Prosecutorial experience
Teare served as chief assistant prosecutor of administration for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office in Essex County, New Jersey. Working in that role, she oversaw labor and employment issues concerning employees of the prosecution's office. Teare also served as a liaison to outside counsel who represented the office in civil matters. Recognizing the impact of her work, the Essex County Bar Association awarded Teare their Criminal Trial Attorney Achievement Award.

Corporate law, university experience, and board service
Teare served as the director of legal management for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now part of Rutgers University and  Rowan University). She worked as corporate counsel for two New Jersey municipalities: East Orange, New Jersey and Plainfield, New Jersey. Teare also worked as assistant corporate counsel for Newark, New Jersey and as legal counsel and assistant corporation counsel for Newark's police department. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Carter G. Woodson Foundation, the Harambee Community Development Organization, and The Aisha Shakir Liver Foundation.