Judge James W. Faison, III

Judge James W. Faison, III

CLEO 1969

“CLEO gave me an understanding of what to expect in law school and how to take a law school exam. The financial assistance I received was also greatly appreciated!”


Judge James W. Faison, III served in the New Jersey judiciary for 21 years before retirement. His initial appointment was to Camden Municipal Court, including seven years as Chief Judge. He was subsequently appointed as an Administrative Law Judge, from which he retired in 2007. He served on recall the following year. Although retired, he continues membership in Judicial Council of the National Bar Association and American Judges Association.

Legal positions that Judge Faison held prior to going on the bench include, Assistant County Prosecutor and Assistant City Attorney, as well as time in private practice. He also held membership in the National, American, Garden State, New Jersey State and Camden County bar associations; National District Attorneys, New Jersey Prosecutors and South Jersey Lawyers associations, National Association of Arson Investigators, National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers and other organizations.

Judge Faison attended CLEO at the University of Virginia in 1969 prior to entering Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, TX, where he received his Juris Doctor in 1972. His undergraduate study was at Texas College, Tyler, TX, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors in 1969. He was born in North Carolina and received his primary and secondary education in Camden, NJ.

Judge Faison is married to Dr. Merrilyn Womack Faison, a psychologist, and father of Felicia Faison-Holmes, Esq., a director within the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. He has two grandchildren, Chloe and Lucas, who were the primary cause of his move to the Atlanta metro area following his retirement from the bench.

When not babysitting, the judge fills his time between golf and activities with his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., of which he has been a member since 1966.