About Us
Shaping the Future
In 2007, Joan M. Burke, then President of the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey appointed a committee to explore the possibility of creating a new chapter of the American Inns of Court. Her vision was to create a learning environment for fellow attorneys to improve their legal acumen while developing a strong sense of ethics and fostering collegiality.
To that end, the Anne E. Thompson American Inn of Court was formed. The Inn’s Executive Committee determined that the name of the Inn should be changed every ten years in order to honor jurists who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and community at large, and in 2018, it was renamed the Marie White Bell American Inn of Court.
The Honorable Marie White Bell
The Honorable Marie White Bell was the first African American to serve on the Town Council and as mayor of the Township of Willingboro, New Jersey.
In 1981, Judge Bell was appointed to the township’s Municipal Court, a position that she held for 16 years.
She also served as the first female judge in Camden County as a result of her appointment as a municipal court judge for the City of Camden and Chesilhurst Borough. In 1997, Judge Bell became the second woman and the first African American to be sworn in as a Superior Court Judge in Burlington County. She retired from the bench in 2006 but continued to serve on recall until 2016. Judge Bell received her bachelor’s degree from Lycoming College, completed her post graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania and received her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.
Founders
Hon. Siobhan Teare
Judge Superior Court
Hon. Sherry Hutchins-Henderson
Judge Superior Court
Hon. Michelle Hollar Gregory
Judge Superior Court (Ret.)
Hon. Greta Gooden Brown
Judge Appellate Court
Hon. Verna Leath
Judge Superior Court
Hon. Joan M. Burke
Administrative Law Judge
Gwendolyn Williams, Esq.
Katherine Wade, Esq.
Carolyn V. Chang, Esq.
Dolores Pegram Wilson, Esq.
Deidre Webster Cobb, Esq.
Executive Board
Hon. Joan Burke
Administrative Law Judge
President
Hon. Siobhan Teare
Judge Superior Court
Gwendolyn Williams, Esq.
Administrator
Carolyn V. Chang, Esq.
Treasurer
Deirdre Webster Cobb, Esq.
Secretary
Dolores Pegram Wilson, Esq.
Peter Tu, Esq.
Katherine Wade, Esq.
Let's Connect
The Honorable Marie White Bell
American Inn of Court
133 High Street
Mount Holly, New Jersey 08060