Carmen received her Juris Doctorate degree from Rutgers University School of Law in January 1985 and began her law career as a litigation associate with the law firm of Cohen Shapiro, Polisher, Sheikman & Cohen in Center City Philadelphia. Later that year she was elected Secretary of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania. The next year Carmen took a leave of absence from the law firm to accept a judicial clerkship with New Jersey’s only Hispanic Federal Judge – the Honorable Joseph H. Rodriguez, U.S.D.J.

Tragically, Carmen’s mother and namesake passed away after a three year battle with breast cancer. In the difficult months that followed, Carmen decided not to return to private practice but instead to pursue a career in public service. Consequently, she accepted an appointment to serve as Assistant Counsel to the Honorable Thomas H. Kean, Governor of the State of New Jersey. She served in that capacity for one year, being responsible for the Departments of Higher Education, Labor and Personnel. Carmen also handled Petitions of Executive Clemency and Commutation of Sentence in the State of New Jersey.

In October of 1988, just three years after law school, Carmen was appointed by the late Mayor Arthur J. Holland to serve as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Trenton. She was re-appointed to the Municipal bench for consecutive terms by Mayor Douglas H. Palmer. On July 19 th, 2001, Carmen was formally sworn in to serve as Chief Judge of the Trenton Municipal Court.

During her judicial tenure, Carmen instituted a number of court case management reforms and protocols as well as developed effective rehabilitative programs. Most notably, Carmen co-founded and supervised participants in a specialized diversionary treatment program known as Drug Court, the first of its kind at the municipal level in the State.

On December 10, 2004, Carmen was sworn into office as the newest member of the New Jersey State Parole Board.