Steven Lefelt

A.B., Rutgers University; J.D., Rutgers Law School-Newark

Judge Steven Lefelt has a long, distinguished career in law, education, and public service. Since 2010, he has been researching election law, teaching law and political science students, and consulting with public interest state organizations interested in minimizing or eliminating partisan gerrymandering throughout the country. He’s worked with public interest groups in Ohio and Oklahoma attempting to establish independent redistricting commissions.

Lefelt was admitted to the New Jersey Bar, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, District Court of New Jersey and the United States Supreme Court. He served as Trial Judge for the Superior Court of Middlesex County, Civil Division, Family Court, Special Civil Part, and Criminal Division. Lefelt was Judge for the Appellate Division (1999-2007); Presiding Judge (2006-2007) and on recall with the Appellate Division (2008-2010).

JLefelt was the deputy director and administrative Law Judge Office of Administrative Law (1980-1991) where he helped establish all rules and procedures governing the Office of Administrative Law, heard contested cases, and supervised all New Jersey Administrative Law Judges.

Previously, Lefelt was co-chairman of Joint Legislative and Gubernatorial Income Maintenance Commission, where he recommended improvements in various existing income maintenance programs for the injured and disabled. He was responsible for seven federal and state court class actions as chief litigator of Prisoners Rights Organized Defense of the American Civil Liberties Union. Lefelt served as executive director New Jersey Workmens’ Compensation Study Commission, known as the Debevoise Commission that studied, evaluated, and recommended improvements to New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system. He also served as executive director of the New Jersey Branch, American Trial Lawyers Association.

Lefelt has many years of experience in education and teaching. During the spring 2021 semester he is co-teaching the Gerrymandering and Democracy course at Eagleton with John Farmer and John Weingart for Rutgers graduate and undergraduate students. In 2018 he co-taught the Supreme Court Decisions, Gerrymandering, and Your Vote: Why It Matters for Eagleton as well. Lefelt served as Associate Dean for Administration and Director of Admissions Rutgers Law School, Newark (1976-1980) where he taught several courses on workers’ compensation. He developed, planned, and administered continuing education courses for lawyers and paralegals as the Associate Director of New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Lefelt also co-taught seminars and clinics on Prison Law and Juvenile Justice with Professors Richard Singer, Charles Jones, and Alexander Brooks.

Lefelt is a Bronze Star recipient for his distinguished service in Vietnam as a Company Commander and Captain for the U.S. Army.

Lefelt received a J.D. from Rutgers Law School, Newark where he was in top ten percent of class and Editor of the Rutgers Law Review, and holds an A.B. from Rutgers University, New Brunswick.