Alll Appellate Division arguments scheduled for Wed., Oct. 31 have been postponed and will be rescheduled.

The Bergen County Courts will also be closed, Wednesday, October 31, 2012 due to inclement weather.

The New Jersey Judiciary and all court buildings will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 30 because of inclement weather.

Please Be Safe!

The New Jersey Judiciary and all court buildings will be closed on Monday, Oct. 29 due to Hurricane Sandy.
2:21pm - 28 Oct 12

Donita Judge

Ohio court strikes down restrictions on early voting

Rachel Maddow reports on the legal hurdles to voting rights on the books in many key states for the 2012 elections. And though the Romney campaign is stalling its post-RNC momentum by not capitalizing on the candidate’s exposure, the electoral math may swing in Republican’s favor thanks to restrictive voting laws. Donita Judge, lead attorney in Ohio for the Advancement Project, joins to explain.

Tickets for the 2012 Garden State Bar Association Gala is SOLD OUT!

Due to the popularity of their previous article, Ronald W. Brown and Geraldine Reed-Brown, presents another fascinating piece on the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). 

In “What’s In My Genes and Jean is my Business Not Yours” the authors explain the purpose, implementation and enforcement of one of this country’s most important, new legislation.

Due to the popularity of their previous article, Ronald W. Brown and Geraldine Reed-Brown, presents another fascinating piece on the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). 

In “What’s In My Genes and Jean is my Business Not Yours” the author’s explain the purpose, implementation and enforcement of one of this country’s most important, new legislation.

The Fourth Amendment of the United State’s Constitution guards against unreasonable search and seizures. While law-based television dramas, legal and social commentary is replete with examples of its practical applications, little is known about its invocation when government and private actors demand one’s DNA.  The founders of this country may not have contemplated the use and or abuse of one’s DNA, but Ron Brown and Geraldine Reed-Brown informs us—by way of a robust legal analysis published by the American Bar Association—that there may be limited protection against such an intrusion. Click HERE to read a fascinating piece by two leaders in this area of law. 

Leading up to collapse of the financial market, many law firms were making strides towards diversification of the legal profession.  The GSBA’s Paulete Brown argues, in a recent National Law Journal article, that “not only was the limited progress achieved in the years leading up to the economic crisis commencing in 2008 lost, but in too many instances diversity in the legal profession retrogressed.” Click Here to read a fascinating piece on law firm diversity from one of the profession’s foremost authorities on the topic.

National Bar Association

September 14, 2011

— JUDICIAL DIVERSITY—

President Barack Obama is making history in his efforts to diversify the federal judiciary. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that nearly three out of every four confirmed judicial nominees have been women or minorities. This means more than 70 percent of Obama’s nominations were either women or minorities. Furthermore, of the 98 judicial nominees confirmed, 21 percent were African-American. By comparison, of the 322 judges confirmed during George W. Bush’s presidency 7 percent were African-American. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, remarked “all of us can be proud of President Obama for taking this critical step to break down another barrier and increase diversity in the federal judiciary.”

While Senate confirmation of judicial nominees is not a new obstacle for any sitting president, President Obama is currently on track to appoint at a rate lower than many of his predecessors. Obama has about 55 judicial nominees pending before the Senate and he is likely to nominate others this fall. If the Senate does not confirm Obama’s pending judicial candidates this fall, it must agree unanimously to keep the nominations pending; if it does not, the nominations expire and the president will be forced to renominate them in 2012.

There are roughly 95 vacant federal judgeships, 38 of which have existed for so long and created such untenable workloads for the remaining judges on the courts that the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts declared the seats judicial emergencies. There has been no significant reduction in the high number of vacancies since January of this year. During the past two years the vacancy rate has fluctuated, but it has never dropped below 10 percent.

Long-standing vacancies on courts with staggering caseloads impede access to the courts and create strains that will inevitably reduce the quality of our justice system and erode public confidence in the ability of the courts to vindicate constitutional rights or render fair and timely decisions.   

The National Bar Association (NBA) applauds President Obama in his success in diversifying the judiciary and making it a truer representation of the people it serves. However, we also urge both the Administration and the Senate to work together in expediting the process of filling existing judicial vacancies promptly. Assuring that we have a judiciary that not only represents the diversity of this country but also is fully staffed is a priority to the NBA.

NBA Members Confirmed Thus Far Under the Obama Administration:

Hon. Irene Cornelia Berger

Hon. Denise Jefferson Casper

Hon. J. Michelle Childs

Hon.  Andre Davis

Hon. James E. Graves

Hon. Joseph A. Greenaway

Hon. David Hamilton

Hon. Ellen Lipton Hollander

Hon. Charlene Edwards Honeywell

Hon. Abdul K. Kallon

Hon. Raymond Lohier