Jennifer Sellitti was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers during its Spring Meeting in La Quinta, California, before an audience of about 500 people on March 10. Sellitti currently serves as the Public Defender for the State of New Jersey, leading one of the largest public defense systems in the country.
The recognition highlights her career-long commitment to public defense and legal advocacy. The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender upholds principles of dedicated, client-focused advocacy and professional excellence in serving the state’s residents, according to the official website.
Sellitti oversees approximately 1,300 attorneys and staff across 66 offices that serve all 21 counties in New Jersey. Under her leadership, the office is advancing holistic defense models and expanding interdisciplinary and youth defense practices statewide. These efforts aim to strengthen public defense as a constitutional safeguard and reduce unnecessary system involvement, while also addressing fiscal and human costs associated with incarceration.
The central administration for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender is located in the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton, according to the official website. The agency operates through regional offices across all counties and aims to offer high-quality legal assistance to financially needy adults and juveniles facing criminal or serious legal matters, according to information from its official website.
A Public Defender appointed by the governor with Senate approval for a five-year term heads the office, according to its official website. Sellitti has previously held several leadership roles within NJOPD and has trained lawyers nationwide on trial advocacy and public defense reform.
The American College of Trial Lawyers extends Fellowship by invitation only after a rigorous investigation process for experienced trial lawyers who have demonstrated high standards in advocacy, ethics, professionalism, civility, and collegiality.
