Dipti Vaid Dedhia Becomes the First Female South Asian Appointed as Municipal Court Judge in Edison, New Jersey

As a high schooler, when Dipti Vaid Dedhia wasn’t sure of what career path to choose, her father got her an internship at a friend’s law firm. It was there that the 36-year-old Indian American developed a love for the law. Now, 20 years later, the New Jersey-based Vaid Dedhia is a successful attorney providing legal counsel on labor laws, anti-discrimination policies, prevailing wage laws, and best employment practices.

Last week, she became the first female South Asian municipal court judge in Edison as well as in New Jersey. Her confirmation came after Mayor Sam Joshi appointed her to the post. “It was truly my honor and privilege to nominate Dipti Vaid Dedhia as Edison’s next municipal court judge,” Joshi said during the nomination. “She is the most qualified and ready for the job.”

After her confirmation, Vaid Dedhia told the media that she wants to use her position and her experiences to inspire today’s youth. She credited her parents for motivating her “to strive for a life of significance and conscience.” So “in recognition of their immense impact” on her life, she said one of her main goals in her new role is to be an example to the youth of today. “My message to them is simple: though the path may not be clear as you stand here today, your goals are attainable. Achieving your dreams through courage, kindness, and perseverance is not a cliche – I am living proof!”

Born in London, Dedhia moved to New Jersey with her parents at the age of two and has lived in the state for the past 36 years, 20 of which as a resident of Edison.

Vaid Dedhia most recently served as the Deputy Attorney General in Employment Counsel and Labor for the State of New Jersey. In that role, she litigated complex employment matters and investigated complaints involving violations of law or policy. She has also represented the governor’s office of Employee Relations in arbitrating grievances between the administration and labor unions.

Before joining the state government, she worked as a staff counsel at Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) and was in private practice in Princeton, New Jersey. She clerked for the Honorable Richard M. Freid and is admitted to the bar of the State of New Jersey, the Federal District of New Jersey and the State of Pennsylvania.

A recipient of the prestigious Most Successful Mediator Award in the Passaic County Superior Court Clerk’s Program, she has also participated in national civil rights competition and is certified in deposition skills by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. She graduated from George Washington University before receiving her Juris Doctor from the Seton Hall University of Law.

Along with her elder sisters — Sheena and Nina, she runs a blog “Runways and Rattle,” where they talk about South Asian fashion, lifestyle and raising their babies with cultural flair. In her free time, she enjoys spending her free time at home with her husband and three young children.