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2025 Federal Practice Bench-Bar Symposium

Earn up to 7.0 credits, including 1.0 in ethics.
Thursday, April 10 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
 New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick and Online

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The Federal Practice Bench-Bar Symposium

Rates

Member: $215
Non-Member: $260
Government Employees: $145
Federal Law Clerks: $89

Note: There is a discounted tuition rate available for government employees and federal law clerks. Call customer service at (732) 214-8500 or email [email protected] for details and to register.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The New Jersey State Bar Association and the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey, in cooperation with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, are proud to present the 2nd Annual Federal Practice Bench-Bar Symposium.

Join U.S. District Court Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb, along with dozens of federal judges and esteemed practitioners for this special symposium designed primarily with state court practitioners in mind. This comprehensive program will focus on the essentials of federal civil and criminal practice. Attendees can enjoy a networking lunch and then choose from several breakout sessions that are right for them: Discovery in Federal Court, The Effect of Bankruptcy on State Court Proceedings, Federal Criminal Practice Primer and Hot Topics in Federal Civil Procedure.

This special program will conclude with an insightful roundtable of plenary judges, followed by a cocktail reception.

View Sponsorship Opportunities

 

Faculty

 

MODERATOR: PRESENTERS:
Hon. Renée Marie Bumb, Chief U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey		 Hon. Claire C. Cecchi, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
 
 
 
 
 		 Hon. Christine M. Gravelle, U.S.B.J.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Katharine S. Hayden, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Edward S. Kiel, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Robert Kirsch, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Brian R. Martinotti, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Julien Xavier Neals, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Christine P. O’Hearn, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Jerrold N. Poslusny, Jr., U.S.B.J.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Zahid N. Quraishi, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Jamel K. Semper, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Susan D. Wigenton, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Karen M. Williams, U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Jessica S. Allen, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. José R. Almonte, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Tonianne J. Bongiovanni, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. J. Brendan Day, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Ann Marie Donio, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Michael A. Hammer, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Elizabeth A. Pascal, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Justin T. Quinn, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Matthew J. Skahill, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Cathy L. Waldor, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Leda Dunn Wettre, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Victor A. Afanador, Esq.
Lite Depalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC, Newark
Christine A. Amalfe, Esq.
President-Elect, New Jersey State Bar Association
Gibbons P.C., Newark
Joseph M. Casello, Esq.
Collins Vella & Casello LLC, Manasquan
Rebekah R. Conroy, Esq.
Stone Conroy LLC, Florham Park
Carmen M. Diaz, Esq.
Chair, Family Law Department
Goodgold West Diaz Bennett & Klein, LLC, Roseland
Kathleen Barnett Einhorn, Esq.
PEM Law, LLP, West Orange
Linda D. Foster, Esq.
Office of the Federal Public Defender, District of New Jersey, Newark
Ethan Hougah, Esq.
Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, LLP, Cherry Hill
Michael A. Kaplan, Esq.
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Susan M. Leming, Esq.
President, Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
Brown & Connery, Westmont
Joseph L. Linares, Esq.
Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga LLP, Newark
Jemi Goulian Lucey, Esq.
Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis LLP, Woodbridge
Joyce M. Malliet, Esq.
Unit Chief, National Security Unit, United States Attorney’s Office
District of New Jersey, Newark
William H. Mergner, Jr., Esq.
President, New Jersey State Bar Association
Leary Bride Mergner & Bongiovanni P.A., Cedar Knolls
Angela C. Pattison, Esq.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark
Samuel I. Portnoy, Esq.
Gibbons P.C, Newark
Colleen Restel, Esq.
Lowenstein Sandler, Roseland
Tara J. Schellhorn, Esq.
Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti, Morristown
Ricardo Solano, Jr., Esq
Gibbons P.C, Newark
R. Stephen Stigall, Esq.
Ballard Spahr LLP, Cherry Hill
K. Anthony Thomas, Esq.
Federal Public Defender, Office of the Federal Public Defender, District of New Jersey, Newark
Rodney Villazor, Esq.
Clark Smith Villazor LLP, New York
 

 

Program Agenda

 

9:00 Welcome from the Leaders
9:15 Welcome Remarks 
9:30 The Interplay Between Federal Civil Procedure and State Court Litigation
There are keys differences between state and federal civil practice. U.S. District Court judges, magistrate judges and seasoned practitioners will highlight some of the most important contrasts. Topics include:

 

  • Removal to federal court – A discussion of the types of cases handled in federal court and when it is appropriate to seek removal
  • Nuts and bolts of federal pleadings – Drafting tips and requirements for pleadings, including joinder and amending complaints upon motions to dismiss
  • District judge vs. magistrate judge – Roles and responsibilities of each
  • Rule 16 – Pretrial, Scheduling and Management Conferences – Purposes, requirements, what the Court may consider, actions that the Court can take and why and what the judges would like you to know
  • Administrative termination
  • The “Entire Controversy Doctrine”
  • The “Rooker-Feldman Doctrine” that prohibits litigants from challenging state court orders in federal court as a means to relitigating a case
  • Settlement in’s and out’s – Why settling on the courthouse steps could be costly for your clients; the state court rule that might change to mirror the federal rule, which allows federal judges to order adjusters to be present for settlement conferences
  • Scheduling conflicts between federal and state courts including abstentions in federal court
10:50 Break
11:00 Thorny Substantive Issues in Federal Court
Our look at the vital differences between federal and state courts continues with a discussion of important federal substantive issues. Topics include:

 

  • Final pretrial orders – This order, unique to the federal courts, sets forth a motion in limine schedule and deadline, the date for a future pretrial if needed, the date for a final pretrial and a trial date
  • Daubert motions
  • Motions in limine
  • TRO’s and Preliminary Injunctions
  • How to navigate pro se actions filed in both courts
11:40 Ethical Issues in Federal Practice with a Focus on Artificial Intelligence
An esteemed panel shines a spotlight on ethics with a special focus on AI. Topics include:

 

  • Artificial Intelligence
    • Ethical implications in the use of AI, how to maintain client confidentiality, data security issues, algorithmic bias
    • How the Court uses AI, including how the law clerks use it, the specific products and apps used by the Court, client confidentiality, data security, and algorithmic bias.
  • Missteps for the unaware that can result in sanctions
12:30 Lunch
1:10 Breakout Session – Choose One
  Session 1: Discovery in Federal Court
Meet some of New Jersey’s newest magistrate judges as the NJSBA president-elect moderates a panel on the significant differences between discovery procedures in federal court and state court. This session will examine them and include the role of the magistrate judge, meet and confer requirements, requests for admissions and how the state rule will be revised to operate more like the federal rule.
  Session 2: The Effect of Bankruptcy on State Court Proceedings
Topics include: The effect and scope of the automatic stay, exceptions and exclusions from the stay, the effect of the stay on third parties, how to seek relief from the stay, and the intersection of bankruptcy and family law.
2:10 Breakout Session – Choose One
  Session 1: Federal Criminal Practice Primer
This is a vital primer for state court practitioners who represent defendants charged with federal crimes. Experienced federal court practitioners will point out some of the most important differences between state and federal court.

 

  • Federal client initial interview
  • The federal investigation: dealing with agents and prosecutors pre-indictment
  • Navigating the federal criminal justice system: arrest through plea/trial
  • Basics of federal sentencing
  • Q&A session with the presenters
  Session 2: Hot Topics in Federal Civil Procedure
What are the hottest topics in federal civil procedure? Find out what you need to know at this important session. The speakers will delve into subjects such as mediation, the differences between mediation in federal and state court – including the power of federal judges to appoint mediators as opposed to state court, where consent is needed – and the role of the pre-trial order. The program will feature a Q&A session with the presenters.
3:00 Federal Judges’ Roundtable
In U.S. District Court, each judge has their own likes and dislikes. Hear from several of them on the distinctions in approaching federal judges and how to present your case for the greatest success. Topics include: brief writing, proffers of evidence, oral arguments, preserving the record for appeal and more.
4:00 Adjourn. Meeting and Greet with the Judges/Cocktail Reception
The reception will be in the rotunda.

 

 

CLE Credits
NJ CLE: NNJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 7 hours of total CLE credit, including 1.0 in Ethics (Full Credits Available: NJ Ethics: 1.0, NJ General: 6.0).​
NY CLE: NY Ethics Transitional: 1.0, NY Professional Practice Transitional: 6.0
PA CLE: PA Ethics Credit: 0.5, PA Substantive Credit: 5.0
New: No PA CLE fee is required for this program. To earn PA CLE credits, a valid PA Bar ID number must be entered into the CLE form provided after attending the program.
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Important Information About Our Events, Meetings, and More:
To secure your spot and receive important updates about our events, meetings, and other gatherings, such as schedule changes, remember to register in advance.

Digital Materials & Environmental Commitment: As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, unless otherwise noted, all seminar materials are provided as digital downloads. You can access these materials through:

  • The “My Links” section at the top of our website for in-person or online events
  • Or, for online programs, the event access link included in your joining instructions

Cancellation and Refund Policy:
If you need to cancel your registration and are not transferring to another program or date, please submit a written request to us at least three business days before the event, meeting, or gathering. You will receive a refund minus a $20.00 cancellation fee. No refunds or registration changes will be issued within three business days of the event, meeting, or gathering.

Stay Informed:
Registered participants will be notified of any schedule changes. For updates regarding inclement weather, please check your email or visit NJSBA.com.

Media Consent:
By participating in our events, meetings, or other gatherings, you agree to be photographed and/or recorded. Additionally, all media content captured during these gatherings will become the property of NJSBA. This content, including your image and name, may be used in our future promotional materials without additional consent or compensation.

Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy:
Read our Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy and submit an Application here: https://njsba.com/njicle/cle-programs/scholarship/