Joseph J. Roberts

Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. (born July 14, 1952) is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1987 to 2010, where he represented the 5th Legislative District. He was Speaker of the Assembly from 2006–2010.

Roberts graduated with a B.A. in political science from Rutgers University and received an M.A. in administration from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania. He served on the Bellmawr Board of Education from 1976–1977 and on the Bellmawr Borough Council from 1977–1980. He was the Chair of the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1980–1987.

Roberts was first elected to the General Assembly in 1987. He served as Assistant Minority Leader from 1994–1995, Minority Budget Officer from 1996–1998, and Majority Leader from 2002–2006. Roberts became the Assembly Speaker at the start of the 2006–2007 session, replacing Albio Sires who stepped down as Speaker at the end of the previous term. He served as Chair of the Legislative Services Commission. He has been a member of the Democratic National Committee since 2001 and was Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee from 2001–2002.

On September 2, 2009, Roberts announced he would not seek re-election to his Assembly seat. On September 12, the Camden and Gloucester Democratic county committees held a special meeting to choose Roberts' replacement on the November general election ballot. They unanimously selected Donald Norcross, co-chairman of the Camden County Democratic Committee and brother of South Jersey political boss George Norcross. Sheila Y. Oliver, the chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee, succeeded Roberts as Speaker.