The Hon. Linda Lordi Cavanaugh is a judge for the Essex County Superior Court (Vicinage 5) in New Jersey. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor Chris Christie on August 18, 2014.
Prior to her appointment, Cavanaugh was the Deputy Director of Law for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, a position she held since 2003. Before that, she briefly served as Vice President of the Office of Governmental Affairs at Saint Barnabas Health System (2002) as well as an attorney at Tompkins, McGuire & Wachenfeld (1997 to 2002). While in private practice, she specialized in real estate law and insurance defense litigation.
Cavanaugh earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. She then completed a J.D. at Seton Hall Law School in 1979.
After graduating from law school, Cavanaugh began her legal career as a special assistant United States Attorney for the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. She served in that capacity until 1981, at which time she became a deputy public advocate for the Division of Mental Health Advocacy of the New Jersey Office of the Public Advocate.
Then, in 1982, she joined the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. She spent the next three years as its deputy counsel, eventually leaving to become the Executive Assistant to the Essex County Administrator (1985 to 1988). Cavanaugh was subsequently named Executive Director of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority (1993 to 1994) and Deputy Director of the Essex County Improvement Authority (1994 to 1996).
Her memberships have included the Board of Directors for the United Labor Agency and the Community Health Law Project as well as the Board of Directors of the Greater Essex and West Hudson Girl Scout Council.
She is registered as a Democrat.