New Entrance Hall to Monmouth County Courthouse Dedicated to Assignment Judge Lisa P. Thornton

Monmouth County and the New Jersey Judiciary dedicated the new grand entrance to the west wing of the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold today to the vicinage’s late assignment judge, Lisa P. Thornton.

The ceremony, attended by more than 400 of her relatives, friends, and colleagues, paid tribute to the state’s first Black female assignment judge on what would have been her 60th birthday.

“What a marvelous tribute to an extraordinary person to have the entry of the halls of justice with her name permanently emblazoned on it,” Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said.

“Lisa cared deeply about the justice system, about the concept of justice, and about treating people fairly – all people, from all backgrounds, all of the time,” he said.

The Monmouth County Board of Commissioners had already allocated funding for a major renovation of the west wing of the courthouse entranceway when Judge Thornton passed away suddenly on May 26. In January, the county, in partnership with the Judiciary and the Monmouth Bar Association, announced the entrance would be dedicated to Judge Thornton, who led the vicinage since 2014.

Monmouth Assignment Judge Marc Lemieux said the hall serves as a memorial to Judge Thornton’s reputation for fairness, compassion, and empathy while being a fierce proponent of justice.

“She was truly a trailblazer. She left her mark on all who she encountered and certainly upon this courthouse,” Judge Lemieux said.

“Judge Thornton was this courthouse. She breathed life into this courthouse every single day. And this memorial hall is a physical representation of her legacy,” he said.