The New Jersey State Bar Association applauds the state Supreme Court for establishing a narrow but fair pathway back to the law for some disbarred attorneys. New Jersey’s prior approach did not account for those limited circumstances when an attorney’s conduct was caused by addiction, illness or personal struggle and where no member of the public was harmed. The path to readmission outlined by the Court today provides appropriate guardrails that protect the public while continuing to hold attorneys to the highest ethical standards.
The NJSBA advocated that the Court reconsider the uncompromising nature of disbarment In re Wade and was a critical contributor to the exhaustive work done by the Wade Commission, created specifically at the direction of the Chief Justice Rabner to study the disbarment process in New Jersey. In the spirit of redemption over punitive action, the NJSBA endorsed a path to reinstatement that includes a detailed structure on how, when and under what circumstances disbarred attorneys may apply. We also appreciate that the Court has directed the collection and review of data to assess whether any bias is evident that disproportionately impacts the disbarment and reinstatement process moving forward.
The NJSBA thanks the Court for giving this matter the broad-minded and painstaking consideration it deserved. As a result of the collaborative work by the bench and bar, New Jersey now has uniform standards for readmission that ensure the continued integrity of the profession.