NJSBA Board of Trustees Report
July 23, 2025
Note: This does not constitute official minutes
Executive Committee Action: Prior to the meeting, the Executive Committee acted on emergent matters and approved asking the Appellate Division to participate as amicus curiae in State v. Norcross to advocate for a heightened mens rea standard related to a criminal charge against an attorney when it involves their representation. The Executive Committee also approved submitting comments to the Judiciary on the NextGen Bar Exam, advocating for a written testing option and license portability for lawyers who passed the bar before the new exam.
Guidance on Alcotest 9510 Cases: The Board agreed to seek clarification from the state Supreme Court on an order that provides a limited stay of DWI prosecutions involving the new Alcotest 9510 machines. The machine is currently the subject of a special adjudicator hearing to determine its reliability. Municipal court practitioners have noted that the Supreme Court order is not being applied uniformly throughout the state, with many municipal court judges staying all Alcotest 9510 cases, regardless of whether they can proceed without the machine readings. The NJSBA is participating as amicus in the case of State v. Cunningham.
Pro Bono Awards: The Board approved the following honorees for the 2025 Pro Bono Awards:
- Champion of Justice Award: Thomas H. Prol
- Pillar of Justice Award: Bressler Amery & Ross P.C.
- Distinguished New Lawyer Award: Kevin L. Bazur
- Mark Daniel Excellence in Pro Bono Award: BASF Corporation Legal Department
- Lifetime Advancement of Pro Bono Service Award: Nancy Eberhardt
Meeting Destinations: The Board approved contracts with The Conrad in London, England to host the 2027 Mid-Year Meeting and the Hyatt New Brunswick for the 2026 Family Law Symposium.