Hackensack Mayor and Council Appoint Karen Gwynn as Judge for Municipal Court

Hackensack, NJ — December 18, 2025 — In a tremendous moment of City pride and celebration, Hackensack welcomed Karen Gwynn as the new Temporary Judge for the Municipal Court on December 16. The courtroom was transformed into a scene of celebration, packed with a standing-room-only crowd of family, friends, and legal colleagues who gathered to witness her swearing-in by Superior Court Judge James X. Sattely.

Gwynn steps onto the bench with over 30 years of deep-rooted experience. A graduate of the University of Maryland and Seton Hall University School of Law, she spent three decades as a distinguished prosecutor in Bergen County. Beyond her legal expertise, she is widely respected for her heart for the community, having been a driving force behind the local Drug Court Program and a constant presence at neighborhood service events.

The overwhelming turnout reflected the high esteem in which Gwynn is held. Accepting the role with characteristic humility, she promised the Council and the community: “I will do the best of my ability, and I will not let you down.”