Cape May County Surrogate Susan Sheppard
Cape May County's former surrogate will now lead the Atlantic and Cape May county courts.
Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced Wednesday that Superior Court Judge M. Susan Sheppard will lead the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage, starting April 1.
Sheppard will succeed Assignment Judge Michael Blee, who was appointed acting director of the Administrative Office of the Courts.
“Judge Sheppard brings a wide range of experience, as well as dedication and enthusiasm, to her new role as assignment judge," Rabner said. "We are confident that the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage will build on its legacy of excellence under her leadership.”
Sheppard was first sworn in as a Superior Court judge in July 2017, wearing an old robe of her late father, Albert W. Sheppard Jr., who was a Judge in Pennsylvania.
“Our father would have been proud that Susan is following in his footsteps,” her brother Mark, an attorney, said at the time.
She first was appointed by Gov. Chris Christie, and reappointed last year by Gov. Phil Murphy.
Sheppard has served as the vicinage’s presiding judge of General Equity since 2022. She also has served in the family and criminal divisions, as well as acting assignment judge for the vicinage.
She is statewide chair of the Conference of General Equity Presiding Judges and has served on various judicial committees, including the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education, the General Equity Visitation Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee’s Self-Represented Court Users Subcommittee.
“I am humbled and honored to be considered and appointed by Chief Justice Rabner to this position," Sheppard said. "Over the years, I have been blessed to have served the citizens of Atlantic and Cape May counties in various elected and non-elected positions. Thanks in part to Judge Blee’s mentorship, I believe I am ready for this new role. I truly enjoy serving as a judge, and I look forward to the challenge of serving the citizens of Atlantic and Cape May counties as assignment judge.”
Sheppard's previous life in elected political office began with Ocean City Council from 2008 to 2010. She then was a Cape May County freeholder from 2010 to 2012, and then Cape May County surrogate from 2013 to 2017.
During her time as surrogate, she was appointed by the Supreme Court to the Judiciary-Surrogate Liaison Committee.
Sheppard began her 26-year legal career as an associate at Blank Rome Comisky and McCauley, spent 10 years as an attorney with McCabe Weisberg and Conway, and opened a solo practice in 2008, where she specialized in real estate and general litigation.
A graduate of Villanova University, Sheppard earned her law degree from Widener University School of Law and was research editor for the Law Review.
