Judge Michael A. Shipp was appointed to the federal bench as a United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, Trenton, in July 2012. As a District Judge, he is responsible for conducting proceedings in both civil and criminal cases, including trials and preliminary injunction hearings. Judge Shipp is also responsible for deciding dispositive motions. Prior to his elevation to the District Court, Judge Shipp served as a United States Magistrate for the District of New Jersey, Newark, from October 2007 to July 2012. As a Magistrate Judge, he conducted preliminary proceedings in both civil and criminal cases.
Prior to his appointment to the federal bench, Judge Shipp served in several different capacities in both government and private practice. Judge Shipp began his legal career with a clerkship for the Hon. James H. Coleman, Jr., Supreme Court of New Jersey. Thereafter, Judge Shipp spent eight years with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. At Skadden, Judge Shipp handled complex commercial litigation, labor and employment, products liability, and contract disputes.
In September 2003, Judge Shipp joined the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety (“Department”) as the Assistant Attorney General in-charge-of the State’s Consumer Protection Practice Group. As an Assistant Attorney General, he managed and assisted counsel in the litigation of lame institutional investor class actions and individual lawsuits, served as the primary point person on Consumer Protection enforcement issues, and reviewed and commented on proposed legislation and policy issues. He was promoted in 2006 and became the key liaison between the Attorney General and directors of the various divisions within the Department. In February 2007, Judge Shipp was named Counsel to the Attorney General, where he served as a top advisor on a variety of sensitive legal issues relating to ethics, appointments and other matters requiring personal involvement by the Attorney General. He also assisted in managing day-to-day issues as they arose within the Department and advised and strategized with attorneys, directors, commissioners and other government officials on significant litigation matters.
Judge Shipp is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Law. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and Seton Hall University School of Law.