Jose L. Linares (born November 30, 1953) is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the former Chief Judge of that same Court from 2017 to 2019. In May 2019, he resigned as Chief Judge to return to private practice at McCarter & English.
Education and career Born in Havana, Cuba, Linares and his family emigrated to Spain and then settled in the United States, first in Verona, New Jersey, and then Newark, New Jersey. He played prep football at Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, New Jersey.Braun, Bob. "Judge in N.J. corruption cases recalls long road from Havana to Newark", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 7, 2010. Accessed February 17, 2025. "'I think about the power of government and how limits have to be put on it,' says Linares, whose family escaped Cuba in 1965, when he was 12.... After escaping to Spain, his family — mother, father and five sons — came to the United States. They first lived in Verona, but were evicted from an apartment because of the noise the five boys made.... The new place was Newark’s North Ward. He graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair where he played football."
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Jersey City State College in 1975 and a Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1978. He was a supervising attorney of the New York City Department of Investigation from 1978 to 1980. He was in private practice in New Jersey from 1980 to 2000. He was a judge on the Essex County Superior Court, New Jersey from 2000 to 2002.
District court service
On August 1, 2002, Linares was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey vacated by Alfred James Lechner Jr."Nominations Sent to the Senate", The American Presidency Project, August 1, 2002. Accessed February 17, 2025. "Jose L. Linares, of New Jersey, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, vice Alfred J. Lechner, Jr., resigned." He was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 14, 2002, and received his commission on December 3, 2002. He became Chief Judge on May 31, 2017. He retired from active service on May 16, 2019.Toutant, Charles. "Leaving Federal Bench, Linares Heading to McCarter & English to Start ADR Practice", Law.com, May 17, 2019. Accessed February 17, 2025. "He was a judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Essex County from 2000 to 2002 and was nominated to the District Court by President George W. Bush in 2002. He became chief judge in 2017."
Notable case
In February 2016, Mercedes-Benz was sued by private plaintiffs alleging its BlueTEC engines violate standards in a manner similar to the Volkswagen emissions scandal. On December 6, 2016, Judge Linares threw out the lawsuit, finding that the plaintiffs had no standing.
See also List of Hispanic and Latino American jurists
References
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