Marie C. Hanley Named Clerk of Appellate Division of New Jersey’s Superior Court

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner has signed an order appointing Marie C. Hanley clerk of the Appellate Division of Superior Court, Thomas J. Sumners, chief of the Appellate Division announced today.

Hanley succeeds Joseph H. Orlando, who is retiring after 24 years with the Judiciary, the last 15 as clerk of the Appellate Division.

Hanley’s responsibilities will include managing the central office operations of the Appellate Division as well as providing support for Appellate Division judges and their staff located in chambers in the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton and around the state. The clerk’s office files more than 7,000 appeals each year. She also will oversee case management and administrative services, including facilities, personnel, information technology, and budgeting, as well as central appellate research.

"The leadership changes in our Clerk's office are bittersweet.  Our court will be losing an outstanding leader in Joe Orlando.  His many years of dedicated, astute, and outstanding public service will be sorely missed. On the other hand, we are excited about the appointment of Marie Hanley. No one has had more experience in fulfilling our court's mission in so many vital positions as Marie. We are confident that Marie will continue to exhibit the same intelligence and management talents that she has shown during the past 38 years she has served our court," Judge Sumners said.

Hanley served as the Appellate Division’s deputy clerk for administrative services for nearly 18 months before becoming deputy clerk for case management in November 2023.

The deputy clerk for administrative services is responsible for assisting judges and staff with budget, purchasing, facilities, technology, personnel, eCourts-Appellate, pretrial detention, trial court records, and special events.

Hanley joined the Judiciary in 1987 as a staff attorney with the Appellate Division, where she held several positions during her career, including deputy chief counsel/supervising attorney for the Appellate Division and chief counsel.

The Chief Justice’s order calls for the appointment to be effective March 1, 2025.

"I am beyond privileged and proud to have worked for the Appellate Division of the Superior Court for the majority of my career. It is one of the finest intermediate appellate courts in the nation, and I will bring my passion for the court in my daily mission to serve all court users with independence, integrity, fairness, and quality service’” Hanley said. “I thank Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, Acting Administrative Director Glenn A. Grant, Chief Judge of the Appellate Division Thomas W. Sumners Jr., and Deputy Presiding Judge for Administration Heidi Willis Currier for this opportunity, and outgoing Clerk Joseph H. Orlando for setting such an incredible example of Clerk for the past 15 years."

Hanley earned her undergraduate degree from University of Rhode Island and her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.