L. Grace Spencer facts for kids

L. Grace Spencer is an American politician and judge. She was born on March 15, 1968. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Ms. Spencer served in the New Jersey General Assembly. This is a part of the New Jersey state government. She represented the 29th Legislative District. Her time in the Assembly was from January 8, 2008, to June 30, 2016. Since July 2016, she has been a judge. She works for the New Jersey Superior Court.

About L. Grace Spencer

L. Grace Spencer worked for the City of Newark, New Jersey. From 1997 to 1999, she was an Assistant Corporation Counsel. This means she was a lawyer for the city. She also worked as a special prosecutor from 2000 to 2003. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government. They bring legal cases against people accused of crimes.

Her Education and Law Career

Ms. Spencer went to Queen of Angels grammar school in Newark. She graduated from Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell, New Jersey in 1986. She then studied at Rutgers University–Newark. In 1992, she earned a degree in business management. She continued her studies at the Rutgers School of Law – Newark. In 1996, she received her J.D. degree. This is a law degree.

After law school, she became a lawyer in New Jersey. She can also practice law in higher courts. These include the United States Supreme Court. Before becoming a judge, she was a partner at a law firm. She worked there since 2003. Her work focused on professional liability law. This deals with legal responsibility for mistakes made by professionals.

Ms. Spencer has lived in the South Ward of Newark since 1979.

Her Time in the Legislature

In June 2007, L. Grace Spencer ran for the General Assembly. She ran with Alberto Coutinho. They received support from the Democratic Party. They won the primary election. A primary election helps a political party choose its candidates. They defeated the person who held the seat before them. Since then, she was re-elected for two-year terms.

Roles in the Assembly

While in the Assembly, Ms. Spencer had important roles. She was the Chair of the Environment and Solid Waste Committee. This committee works on laws about the environment and trash. She was also the Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. This committee deals with how the state spends money. She was also on the Women and Children Committee. This group focuses on issues affecting women and children. She was also a member of the Intergovernmental Relations Commission. This group helps different levels of government work together.

Becoming a Judge

In May 2016, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie nominated Ms. Spencer. He suggested she become a judge. She was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate. This means the Senate agreed with the Governor's choice. She resigned from her Assembly position on June 30, 2016. After she left, Blonnie R. Watson took her place. Ms. Watson was sworn into office on July 21, 2016.

Bills She Supported

Ms. Spencer supported a bill called A3221. A bill is a proposed law. This bill would create rules for pet restraints. These rules would apply to pets in passenger cars.

Understanding District 29

The New Jersey Legislature has forty districts. Each district has one representative in the New Jersey Senate. It also has two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. For the 2014-2015 legislative session, the other representatives from the 29th District were:

• Senator Teresa Ruiz
• Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin