LaToyia Jenkins Stewart makes history this week as she becomes the first female African-American judge in Passaic County.
She was welcomed at a ceremony by Judge Ernest Capasala and the other Passaic County Superior judges.
Jenkins was born in Paterson, N.J., and attended Paterson Catholic High School. In 1997, she graduated from Morgan University with a bachelor’s degree. Three years later she received her juris doctor degree from Rutgers University.
In 2000, she served as a judicial law clerk for the late Honorable Isabel Stark, J.S.C., in the Civil Division of the Bergen County Superior Court. Jenkins returned to Paterson and began her career as an associate with the law firm of Sciro & Marrotta. In 2002, Jenkins joined the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, where she spent time in many sections, including Juvenile, Pre-Indictment, Grand Jury, Trial and Domestic Violence.
Jenkins is married to defense attorney Kenyatta Stewart, Esq. They have a son, 1-year-old Kenyatta Stewart Jr.