Latino Heritage Celebrated In Essex County, 2 Local Leaders Honored

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Two local community leaders earned awards for their “dedication to public service” during Essex County’s 2026 Latino Heritage Celebration.

The annual celebration pays homage to the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to the Spanish speaking nations of Europe, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

Estrella del Condado de Essex Awards (Stars of Essex County) were presented to two recipients:

• New Jersey Assemblywoman Carmen Morales
• Jose L. Linares, retired chief judge of the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, partner in McCarter & English

Here’s what to know about this year’s awardees, county officials said:

EDUCATOR AND LAWMAKER – Carmen Theresa Morales is an accomplished education leader and Assemblywoman representing New Jersey’s 34th Legislative District. She currently serves as Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Essex County Schools of Technology, where she brings extensive experience and a strong dedication to student achievement. Previously, she was Principal of Essex County Newark Tech High School, her alma mater and the school from which she graduated in 1995. A first-generation college student, Dr. Morales earned a Bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University, a Master’s from Fairleigh Dickinson University, an Education Specialist degree, and a Doctorate in Education from Seton Hall University. She began her career teaching preschool in Newark and progressed through roles including Education Coordinator, Adult Education Teacher, and school administrator, gaining over two decades of experience across multiple educational settings. She holds certifications as both a Principal and Supervisor. As the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the Essex County Assembly, she serves on key committees advocating for education, community growth, and women’s empowerment. She is the chairwoman of the assembly Higher Education committee, as well as a member of the Science, Innovation, and Technology and Appropriations committees. Raised in public housing, she emphasizes family involvement, mentorship, and opportunity for students. She is also an active member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., holding numerous leadership positions.

JUDGE AND VOLUNTEER – The Honorable Jose L. Linares is a retired Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court in New Jersey. He has more than 40 years of experience in judicial service, private practice, and as a businessman, having owned and managed several successful retail enterprises. Over the course of his career, he has developed an exceptional reputation in the skills necessary to resolve complex disputes, relying on his extensive experience as both a judge and trial lawyer. Judge Linares chairs McCarter’s Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. He served as Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, having been nominated to the bench by the President and confirmed by the Senate in 2002. Prior to joining the United States District Court, he served as a Superior Court Judge in Essex County. Before joining the bench, Judge Linares headed his own law firm where he litigated products and medical cases. Judge Linares is experienced in the life sciences and financial services industries, having heard numerous patent cases during his time on the bench, many involving high-stakes disputes between generic and branded drug companies. In addition, he has presided over numerous major bankruptcy appeals, class actions, multidistrict litigations, and securities fraud cases. Since joining McCarter, Judge Linares has participated in the preparation of highly complex patent and commercial litigation cases and has supervised corporate white collar criminal cases and internal investigations. Judge Linares lectures nationally on litigation and patent cases. He has served as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall School of Law and led the New Jersey District Court’s 2017 Sentencing Symposium and the 2018 New Jersey District Court National Opioid Symposium. Judge Linares is a fellow of the American Bar Association and has been honored with several prestigious recognitions, including the New Jersey State Bar Distinguished Judicial Service Award, the James J. McLaughlin Professionalism Award presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the Gerald B. O’Connor Award. He is also the recipient of several lifetime achievement awards. Judge Linares broke ground as the first Hispanic to serve as Chief of the United States District Court of New Jersey and the first Cuban-born District Court Chief in the United States. He is an active member of the firm and serves on McCarter’s Culture & Inclusion Committee. Judge Linares is involved in numerous civic and nonprofit activities and regularly volunteers his time to various causes supporting young adults through both educational efforts and local youth sports programs. He currently serves on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee of Liberty Bank of New Jersey.

Both awardees said that the concept of family is important to their success.

“To my students from the Vocational School District, you keep me hopeful for the future, you keep me growing and reminding me of why what we do is important,” Morales said.

“My desire to give back is a culmination of my family, my upbringing and my experiences in life,” said Morales, who added she has been greatly influenced by the determination of her grandmother.

“I am proud of my accomplishments as a judge, but I am most proud of my family and the sacrifices made by my parents,” Linares said.

“As Latinos, we are instilled with a large amount of pride, family, religion, values and work ethic that is unparalleled,” Linares added.

“We are proud to recognize Carmen Morales and Jose Linares for their outstanding leadership, dedication to public service, and commitment to improving the lives of all our residents,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

The Latino Heritage Month Celebration is part of a year-long cultural series that highlights Essex County’s diversity. Other cultural heritage celebrations include African American History Month, Irish Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Italian Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage and Portuguese Heritage.

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