Nia Gill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nia Gill
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| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 34th district |
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| In office January 8, 2002 – January 9, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Norman M. Robertson |
| Succeeded by | Britnee Timberlake |
| President pro tempore of the New Jersey Senate | |
| In office January 12, 2010 – January 9, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Shirley Turner |
| Succeeded by | Teresa Ruiz |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 27th district |
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| In office January 11, 1994 – January 8, 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Brown Quilla Talmadge |
| Succeeded by | Mims Hackett John F. McKeon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 15, 1948 Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Upsala College (BA) Rutgers University, Newark (JD) |
Nia H. Gill (born March 15, 1948) is an American lawyer and a politician from the Democratic Party. She represented the 34th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate from 2002 to 2024. This means she helped make laws for New Jersey.
She also served as the Senate President pro Tempore from 2010 to 2018. This is a leader who steps in when the main Senate President is not there. Later, Teresa Ruiz took over this role.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Nia Gill was born on March 15, 1948, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She went to Montclair High School. After high school, she studied at Upsala College. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in history and political history.
She then continued her education at Rutgers Law School. She earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, which is a law degree. This education prepared her to become a lawyer.
A Career in Law and Politics
Nia Gill started her career in law. She worked as a law clerk for a judge in Essex County, New Jersey. A law clerk helps a judge with legal research and writing. She also worked as a public defender in Essex and Passaic counties. A public defender is a lawyer who represents people who cannot afford a lawyer.
Later, she became an attorney at a law firm called Gill & Cohen, P.C. She worked with another former politician, Neil M. Cohen.
Serving in the Assembly
Nia Gill first served in the General Assembly. This is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. She was an Assembly member from 1994 to 2002. During this time, she was the Minority Whip from 1996 to 2001. A whip helps make sure party members vote together.
She also worked on important committees in the Assembly. These included groups focused on education funding and issues for senior citizens. She also helped with a committee about arts, history, and humanities.
Becoming a State Senator
Nia Gill became a candidate for the State Senate in District 34. This happened after some towns she represented in the Assembly moved into this district. District 34 used to be a Republican area for many years. However, the new towns added were mostly Democratic.
This change helped Nia Gill win by a lot against the person who held the seat, Norman M. Robertson. She won with a large number of votes.
In 2003, she faced a challenge in the primary election from LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.. Even though Jones spent more money, Gill won with 55% of the votes. She was re-elected six more times. She won elections in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2021.
Key Legislative Work
As a senator, Nia Gill worked on many important laws. She helped pass a law that makes it a crime for public officials to take away people's civil rights. This law made racial profiling a state crime. Racial profiling is when someone is treated unfairly because of their race.
She also supported the New Jersey Civil Rights Act. This act would give people a way to get help if their civil rights are violated. She also sponsored a resolution to officially cancel an old effort from 1868. That effort tried to remove New Jersey's support for the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This amendment protects rights like due process and equal protection for all citizens.
Senator Gill also worked on laws to help families. She sponsored a law that gives a $3,000 income tax deduction for families caring for an elderly relative at home. She also supported the law that ended the death penalty in New Jersey. She also worked on laws to help people choose their own pharmacy for certain health programs.
She also sponsored laws to make crimes of the third degree more serious. Nia Gill made history as the first African American woman to serve on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee. This committee reviews judges and important legal matters.
Senatorial Courtesy and Court Nominations
In 2007, Governor Corzine wanted to make Stuart Rabner the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. This is the highest court in New Jersey. However, two senators from Essex County, where Rabner lived, used "senatorial courtesy" to block his nomination. This is a tradition where local senators can object to a nominee from their home county.
Senator Gill was one of these senators. She later dropped her objection after meeting with Rabner. She was concerned because Rabner had not been a judge before. She also felt that a minority candidate should have been considered for the position.
When the Senate voted, Nia Gill was the only senator to vote against Rabner. She explained her vote by saying he lacked judicial experience. Rabner was still confirmed as Chief Justice.
In the 2022-23 legislative session, Senator Gill served on several committees. These included the Legislative Oversight, Law and Public Safety, and Transportation committees.
2023 Election
After the 2020 United States census, New Jersey's legislative districts were redrawn. Parts of Nia Gill's 34th District were combined with parts of the 27th District. This meant she had to run against the current senator for the 27th District, Dick Codey, in the Democratic primary election.
Nia Gill lost this primary election. She received 42.2% of the votes, while Codey received 57.7%. Even though Codey won, he later announced he would retire from the Senate. Assemblyman John F. McKeon then became the Democratic candidate for the general election.
Other Political Efforts
In 2005, New Jersey Governor-elect Jon Corzine considered appointing Nia Gill to fill his vacant seat in the United States Senate. This seat became open when he resigned to become Governor. However, he later chose Bob Menendez for the position.
In 2012, Nia Gill also ran in a primary election for a seat in the U.S. Congress. This seat was open because of the death of Donald M. Payne, who was a U.S. Representative. She was one of several candidates. Donald Payne Jr. won that election by a large margin. Nia Gill came in third place with 17% of the votes.
Election History
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013
- Nia H. Gill (Democratic, incumbent): 27,132 votes (73.1%)
- Joseph S. Cupoli (Republican): 9,972 votes (26.9%)
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011
- Nia H. Gill (Democratic, incumbent): 17,118 votes (79.6%)
- Ralph Bartnik (Republican): 4,386 votes (20.4%)
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2007
- Nia H. Gill (Democratic, incumbent): 17,178 votes (100.0%)
