Joseph Charles facts for kids

Joseph Charles, Jr. is an American politician and judge. He was born on January 6, 1944. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Joseph Charles, Jr. has served in important roles in New Jersey. He was a state senator and a member of the General Assembly. Today, he works as a judge.

Early Life and Education

Joseph Charles, Jr. went to Rutgers University. He earned a degree in Chemistry. Later, he studied law at Rutgers School of Law–Newark. He became a lawyer after finishing his studies.

Public Service Career

Joseph Charles, Jr. has a long history of public service. He worked as a lawyer for the government early in his career.

Serving in the Legislature

From 1982 to 2002, he was part of the New Jersey General Assembly. This is like the "lower house" of the state's law-making body. In the Assembly, he held many leadership positions. These roles helped him guide discussions and decisions.

After that, he served in the New Jersey Senate from 2002 to 2003. The Senate is the "upper house" of the state legislature. He represented the 31st Legislative District. While in the Senate, he helped lead committees. These included groups that focused on labor and state budgets. He left the Senate in August 2003.

Becoming a Judge

In 2003, Joseph Charles, Jr. was appointed as a judge. He became a Judge of the New Jersey Superior Court. This means he helps make legal decisions in court cases. He was chosen for this important role by Governor James McGreevey.

Community Involvement

In 2020, Joseph Charles, Jr. joined a special committee. This group was formed to look at police policies in New Jersey. They worked to review rules for police officers. This committee was created because people wanted changes in how police work.