The New Jersey state Senate voted unanimously this afternoon to confirm Jackson resident Sean Gertner to the New Jersey Superior Court.

Born and raised in Lakewood, Mr. Gertner, according to his website, has more than 27 years of experience handling a wide array of civil, commercial and administrative matters for his clients and “currently focuses his practice on issues involving municipal zoning, commercial transactions and litigation and elder law.”

Mr. Gertner, who was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1990, has served as the Municipal Attorney for Lakehurst Borough since 2001 and the Zoning Board Attorney for Jackson Township since July 2006.

Mr. Gertner is also the son of longtime Lakewood Municipal judge Jerome Gertner, who passed away late last year and the grandson of Lakewood’s first Jewish Mayor, Michael Gertner.

Michael Gertner served as Mayor of Lakewood Township in 1962 and 1963 and was a founder of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors.

Judges for the New Jersey Superior Courts are selected via the gubernatorial appointment of judges method. They serve for a seven-year term, after which they become eligible for reappointment. If reappointed and reconfirmed by the Senate, the judges receive tenure, which allows them to remain in their posts until they reach the age of 70.

New Jersey Superior Courts are the trial courts in New Jersey.

There is a Superior Court in each of the state’s 21 counties, and approximately 360 Superior Court trial judges across the state.

Superior Courts are divided into five main types: Criminal cases, civil cases, family cases and tax cases. Cases from any of these trial courts may be appealed in the Appellate Division, and Superior Court appellate decisions may be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Gertner was confirmed unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Prior to the committee vote, New Jersey state Senator Bob Singer (R-Lakewood), who was close friends with the elder Gertner, introduced his son, describing the Gertner family as an “historic part of Lakewood Township” and calling him the “best of the best.”

The committee approved the nomination unanimously 11-0, sending it to the full Senate where he was confirmed 36-0.