Camden People - Theodore Z. Davis

THEODORE Z. DAVIS grew up and went to high school in Camden. After receiving a a B.S. degree in accounting from Temple University’s business school and the L.L.B. degree from Temple University School of Law, in 1964 he joined the law firm of Bennett, Wingate and Pascoe where he specialized in corporate tax law. He served as an assistant city attorney for the City of Camden and an assistant county prosecutor for Camden County. By 1973 he had been appointed municipal judge for the City of Camden. The late New Jersey Chief Justice Richard J. Hughes appointed Judge Davis a member of the Supreme Court Board of Bar Examiners in 1974. Judge Davis subsequently became its chairman until 1981.

Judge Davis was appointed a Superior Court judge in 1981 and named presiding judge of the Chancery Division-General Equity in 1991. He retired from the bench in 2003. As a Judge, Commissioner Davis was a frequent lecturer at judiciary seminars and seminars held by the State Bar Association.

In 1986 The Honorable Theodore Z. Davis was named chair of the New Jersey Supreme Court Task Force on Minority Concerns, the first task force of its kind in the United States. Under Judge Davis’ leadership, the task force completed an examination of racial and ethnic biases in the New Jersey Judiciary over a six-year period. The final report of the task force was published in 1992.

Judge Theodore Z. Davis was initially appointed to the Election Law Enforcement Commission in June, 2004 and reappointed in 2005.

Judge Davis is an advisor to community groups and institutions. Davis serves on the board of trustees of Temple University and on the board of the Temple University Health System. He is also a lecturer on legal topics and was an adjunct professor at Temple University School of Law for seven years. Davis is a member of the National, New Jersey and Camden County Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the U.S. Tax Court.

Judge Theodore Z. Davis is a current member of the law firm of Cozen O’Connor. A member of the Business and Commercial Litigation Department, Judge Davis is affiliated with this international firm with offices in the United States; Toronto, Canada; and London, England.A member of the Business and Commercial Litigation Department, Judge Davis is affiliated with this international firm with offices in the United States; Toronto, Canada; and London, England.

Judge Davis has served and still serves on many committees for the Supreme Court and for the state and county bar associations. He is also a lecturer on many legal topics throughout the state.

In January of 2007 Theodore Z. Davis was appointed interim Chief Operating Officer of the City of Camden by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine. He replaced former Camden Mayor Melvin "Randy" Primas, who resigned.