The Honorable Lisa Payne Thornton

The Honorable Judge Lisa Payne Thornton, a woman of remarkable kindness and generosity, passed from this world to her heavenly home on May 26, 2023, at the age of 59. She was born and raised in Long Branch, NJ, to Milford L. Thornton and Louise S. Thornton. She is predeceased by her parents and brother, Milford L. Thornton, Jr. Though she has departed, her loving memory will continue to be cherished by her nephew Kent A. Thornton, whom she loved like a son, and his wife Federica, great-nephew Lorenzo Thornton, great-niece and namesake Lisa M. Thornton, and a host of family, friends, and colleagues.

Lisa was a woman of faith and a devout member of the Second Baptist Church in Long Branch, New Jersey. She lived her life with a deep sense of purpose, and her contributions made through a stellar career in    law and public service will never be forgotten.

Her journey began in Long Branch Public Schools, where she excelled academically. She graduated from Long Branch High School and attended Douglas College where she obtained her undergraduate degree in Political Science. Lisa went on to obtain her juris doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law. Her professional life was marked by an unwavering commitment to justice. At the time of her transition, Lisa served as the Assignment Judge of Monmouth County to which she was appointed in 2014 by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. She made history in this role as the first African American Woman Assignment Judge in New Jersey history. She was originally appointed to the Superior Court bench by Governor Jon S. Corzine in 2008.  There, she served as the Supervising Special Civil Part Judge and Presiding Judge for the Monmouth Vicinage. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Lisa served as Chief of Staff for the Department of Law and Public Safety, where she assisted  both Attorney Generals Stu Rabner and Anne Milgram with the overall management and oversight of the Department and its approximately 9,000 employees.  Lisa was highly acclaimed for spearheading a statewide criminal justice initiative that addressed prevention, enforcement, and re-entry.

Lisa was a woman of many talents, and her contributions to public service were extensive. In 2006 she served as Senior Counsel to Governor Jon S. Corzine , assigned to the Authorities Unit, responsible for monitoring public boards and commissions. Lisa supervised these Boards to ensure alignment with  the Governor’s agenda on  issues ranging from  healthcare and education to public finance and transportation. From 2002 through 2006, Lisa served as Special Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Banking and Insurance, where she helped develop reforms that resulted in the vibrant auto insurance market that New Jersey consumers currently enjoy. From 1999 to 2001, Lisa served as a Municipal Court Judge in Neptune, NJ. In addition, she was a Senior Trial Attorney with Prudential Financial from 1992 to 2002.

Beyond her illustrious career, Lisa was a woman of many passions, with a deep love of travel, cooking, and spending time with her family. Her warmth, humor, and loving spirit will be deeply missed.

In honor of Lisa's lifelong dedication to the pursuit of justice and achieving diversity in the legal profession, the New Jersey State Bar Association has established The Hon. Lisa P. Thornton Memorial Scholarship for young African American women seeking to attend law school.. In honor of her legacy, donations can be made by going online to www.njsbf.org.  Checks can be mailed made payable to the New Jersey State Bar Foundation with a notation to direct the funds to The Hon. Lisa P. Thornton Memorial Scholarship. Checks can be mailed to The New Jersey State Bar Association c/o Angela Scheck: 1 Constitution Square, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. You may contact Angela Scheck directly at ascheck@njsba.com.

As we bid farewell to Lisa Payne Thornton, we honor her legacy of kindness, compassion, and devotion to justice. Her spirit will continue to shine in the hearts of those who knew her, and her memory will be a guiding light for generations to come.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Brookdale Community College - at the Robert J. Collins Arena, 765 Newman Springs Road in Lincroft, NJ and Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 10:00 AM until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 AM at Second Baptist Church, 93 Liberty Street in Long Branch. Interment will follow at Woodbine Cemetery in Oceanport. The family invites you to leave a letter of condolence through the Tribute/Guestbook link above.

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