Melanie Szuba Appleby

I have been fortunate to have a legal career which has provided me with unique opportunities and diverse experiences in law, government and the judiciary. After serving as a Judge for over five years, in the Chancery Division, Family Part as well as in the Criminal Division, I have returned to private practice, committed to applying the diverse knowledge and experience I have garnered, to best serve clients at CLDDS.

After a stint in insurance defense, I joined Gilmore and Monahan, P.A., as a local government attorney. As Airport Counsel to the Atlantic City International Airport, an entity within the South Jersey Transportation Authority, I was responsible for independently negotiating leases with vendors and tenants, as well as negotiating the design build contract for the parking garage at the airport. In addition, I represented numerous local government entities, serving as Municipal Attorney for Stafford Township, Little Egg Harbor Township, Jackson Township and Lavallette Borough. When both Jackson Township and Toms River Township needed to overhaul their municipal codes, I crafted the recodifications, including land use and zoning ordinances, for adoption by the respective governing bodies.

After reaching the requisite level of experience and passing exacting standards, I earned a Diplomate in New Jersey Municipal Law and the designation of Fellow from the International Municipal Lawyers Association. In 2007, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of public service when I became the first woman elected in Toms River as a Council Member-At-Large in the newly formed Mayor-Council form of government. My service was recognized when I received the Governor Whitman Excellence in Public Service designation.

Rutgers School of Law-Camden

J.D. (1994) | Law

1994

Rutgers University - Newark

B.A. (1986) | Biochemistry and Biology

1986

Superior Court Judge

Superior Court of New Jersey - Ocean County Vincinage

2011 - 2016

Attorney

Law Office of Melanie Donohue Appleby, LLC

2011 - 2011

Township Attorney for Little Egg Harbor, Special Counsel for Jackson, Property Maintenance Board Attorney/Special Counsel for Brick Twp.

Council Member-At-Large

Toms River Township

2008 - 2011

Attorney

Gilmore & Monahan

1997 - 2010

Municipal Attorney for Lavallette, Little Egg Harbor, Stafford, Jackson, Special Counsel for Brick Twp., Dover (now Toms River), Airport Attorney for Atlantic City International Airport (SJTA)

Associate

Law Office of Stephen E. Gertler

1995 - 1997

Governor Whitman Excellence in Public Service

Governor Whitman

2008

IMLA Fellow

IMLA

2005

Diplomate in New Jersey Municipal Law

New Jersey Institute of Municipal Attorneys

2002

New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators

Member

2016 - Current

Ocean County Bar Association

Member

1994 - Current

New Jersey Bar Association

Member

1994 - Current

New Jersey

Since 1994

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