As she prepares to move on after spending more than half her life as a federal judge, Chief Judge Freda Wolfson of the District of New Jersey finds it “a little bittersweet” to end her tenure on the court. Jan. 31 marks her last day on the job after spending 16 years as a magistrate judge and 20 years as a district judge.

Wolfson, who became the chief judge in 2019, expects to return to private practice, but has not announced her next career move. U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb will succeed her as chief judge.