Effective September 1, 2012, all asbestos litigation consolidated and pending in Middlesex County, New Jersey will be reassigned from Judge Ann McCormick to Judge Vincent LeBlon. Asbestos cases have been consolidated in Middlesex County for many years, and Judge McCormick has presided over the New Jersey asbestos docket in Middlesex County since the early 2000s. The announcement issued by the New Jersey Supreme Court does not provide any reasons for this change, but changes in judicial assignments take place every year, although changes in New Jersey’s mass tort program (recently announced to be renamed “multicounty litigation” as of September 4, 2012) take place less often.
Judge LeBlon enjoys a good reputation among the defense bar in New Jersey as a smart, fair, and well-prepared jurist. He was initially appointed to the bench in July 1997, and was reappointed in March 2004. He served in the Criminal Division and the Family Division for several years before being transferred to the Civil Division ten years ago.
It remains to be seen whether and to what extent Judge LeBlon changes any of the procedures for asbestos litigation that have become established under Judge McCormick, and this is certainly something that will be watched with interest by both clients and counsel involved in asbestos litigation in New Jersey.
