COURT HOUSE — Superior Court Judge John C. Porto was sworn to office Thursday, Jan. 14 by Superior Court Judge Albert J. Garofalo, presiding judge, Criminal Division, His wife, Lisa Porto, held the Bible at the ceremony in the Historic Courthouse on North Main Street.
Seventeen other Superior Court vicinage judges attended the judicial oath ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Assignment Judge Hon. Valerie H. Armstrong presided over the ceremony, held under tight security.
Porto was assigned to the Family Division.
Porto’s twins, Christopher and Laura led the Pledge of Allegiance, a job lauded by Armstrong.
J. Christopher Gibson, president, Cape May County Bar Association, presented Porto’s judicial robe.
Assistant County Counsel James Arsenault, who worked with Porto when he was Cape May County Counsel, presented him with his gavel.
Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel presented a resolution passed Jan. 12 by the Board of Chosen Freeholders attesting to his service to the county.
Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) lauded Porto’s appointment and reassured all that Porto would be a credit to the bench.
Judge Max A. Baker, presiding judge, Family Court, reminded the crowd that the newest judge was a Wildwood High School graduate, as was he. Baker said that many do not realize the fact that more Wildwood High School graduates sit on the bench than any other high school in the vicinage.
Baker, a longtime friend, fellow golfer, and acquaintance of Porto joked that he had watched Porto’s career from law clerk into private practice, then as assistant county counsel in Atlantic County, then in Cape May County and then as Cape May Counsel. He joked that it was good to see Porto “finally had a steady job.”
Baker commended Porto’s fairness and compassion, and added his demeanor made him perfect to be a Superior Court judge.
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