New Jersey’s Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced Jan. 10 that Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr. will lead the Ocean Vicinage, effective Feb. 1.

Hodgson, who grew up in Surf City, will succeed Judge Marlene Lynch Ford as the new assignment judge for Ocean County. Ford is retiring after more than two decades on the bench. She served seven years as an assignment judge, according to Rabner’s announcement.