Stacey D. Adams was appointed to the federal bench in 2024, bringing extensive experience in labor and employment litigation to her judicial role. She was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1998 after graduating from Seton Hall University School of Law, and spent more than two decades in private practice before entering the judiciary.

Prior to her federal appointment, Adams served as a Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey from 2019 to 2024, where she sat in both the Family and Civil Divisions in Monmouth County. Her judicial tenure followed a successful career as a labor and employment litigator at several major law firms, including Littler Mendelson, P.C., where she served as a shareholder and sat on multiple firm management committees, including the Women's Leadership Initiative and the Client Investment Management Committee.

Adams began her legal career as an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP in New York City, working in the labor and employment department from 1997 to 2002. She subsequently joined DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick, Cole & Wisler, LLP, where she was elevated to partner, and remained from 2002 to 2006. She then spent eighteen years at Littler Mendelson, P.C., the nation's largest labor and employment law firm, where she developed significant trial and appellate experience, including arguing before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Political Career

• United States Magistrate Judge, District of New Jersey (2024–present); appointed by the Court's District Judges; sworn in June 2024; serves in Newark vicinage

• Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey (2019–2024); appointed to Monmouth County; served in Family and Civil Divisions

• Nominated for Superior Court judgeship (2019); confirmed by New Jersey Senate

Key Policy Areas

• Labor and employment law

• Civil rights litigation

• Family law

• Federal civil procedure

• Alternative dispute resolution

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Presided over initial appearance of Alexander Heifler in March 2026, following FBI arrest in Hoboken for alleged possession and manufacture of Molotov cocktails targeting a Palestinian-American activist

• Developed and conducted diversity, anti-harassment, and employment training programs for corporate clients during private practice tenure

• Served on the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association Board of Directors prior to judicial appointment

• Participated in federal court webinar on law clerk docket management in March 2025, sharing judicial perspective on case management efficiency

Education

• B.A., George Washington University (1995)

• J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law (1998)

Personal

• Birth date: Not publicly available

• Residence: Not publicly available