New Jersey City Municipal Court judge, perhaps the youngest in state, eager to make his city proud

Mekhail Sarofiem has appeared before a judge representing hundreds of clients in Jersey City Municipal Court over the past decade. Now he’s going be on the other side of the bench.
The Jersey City attorney has been appointed a municipal court judge in the city after he was unanimously approved by city council last month.
A true, born-and-raised Jersey City success story ― his parents emigrated from Egypt, worked hard and raised six children ― the 32-year-old Sarofiem may be the youngest municipal court judge in the state of New Jersey, and he’s sure he is the only Coptic municipal court judge in the country.
“It’s a small community, relatively,” he joked about the nationwide distinction. “Everyone know who everyone is.”
Regarding being the youngest in New Jersey, Sarofiem says Malia Reichmann of Edison is also 32, and he can’t find a younger judge.
Becoming a judge has been a dream he was first introduced to the law ― “I saw the power to impact lives and uphold justice.”
The County Prep, Montclair State University and Rutgers Law School graduate calls the appointment a great honor and a great responsibility.
“As a lifelong resident of Jersey City it is especially meaningful for me to serve the people of my community in this role,” Sarofiem said. “I see the role of a municipal court judge as one where it’s an intersect of law and humanity.
“It’s really a responsibility that I hold with the utmost respect knowing the trust people placed in me to represent the city I have always called home.”
Sarofiem, a partner in the Sarofiem and Antoun law firm, says he represented many people in the city‘s municipal court at the beginning of his career, and has worked as a pool attorney for Hudson County and a per diem attorney for the Office of the Public Defender.
“The Jersey City Municipal Court judges I encountered were extremely fair to the individuals before the court,” he said.
“They were inspiring to me. You see a great deal of diversity and cohesive approach to law and humanity. … I am so excited to absorb and learn as much as possible from them.”