NJSBA Board of Trustees Report
April 11, 2025
Note: This does not constitute official minutes
Outgoing Trustees: NJSBA President William H. Mergner Jr. paid tribute to outgoing Trustees Hon. James M. Newman, Ayesha K. Hamilton, Kathleen Barnett Einhorn, Carlos M. Bollar, Hon. Edward M. Neafsey, Susan L. Nardone, Katrina Homel and Charles J. Stoia for their dedication to the Association.
“Their contributions have driven the mission of the Association and helped make this Board the most effective body in the state in protecting the interests of lawyers, improving the practice of law and promoting a more fair, efficient and independent justice system for the people of New Jersey,” Mergner said.
Mel Narol Award: The Board approved Robert L. Johnson as the 2025 recipient of the Mel Narol Award. The award honors members of the Association, groups or entities who have spearheaded inclusion in the profession and made strides for women and diverse lawyers. Johnson is the chief diversity officer at Gibbons PC, where he is involved with a pipeline program that helps second and third-year law students of diverse backgrounds prepare for employment after law school. He is also a founding trustee and board member of the Garden State Bar Foundation and regularly speaks on issues involving DEI and its impact on the legal community. The NJSBA Diversity Committee will present the award during its luncheon at the Annual Meeting and Convention.
NJ Corporate and Business Law Study Commission: The Board voted to advocate for Gov. Phil Murphy and state legislative leaders to reinvigorate the New Jersey Corporate and Business Law Study Commission. The commission was formed in 1989 to review statues, legislation and decisions impacting New Jersey businesses, but is currently inactive.
Annual Dues Billing: The Board approved a proposal to transition the Association to a fixed date renewal model for memberships, where all memberships renew on a single annual date. The NJSBA previously operated on a rolling annual model with 12 different renewal dates throughout the year. The change will improve response rates and enable more effective renewal campaigns.
The Board supported the following legislation:
–Proposed Amendments to the Uninsured Employer’s Fund (UEF) – An amendment to the Workers’ Compensation Act that would improve the efficiency for injured workers to receive benefits where their employers fail to provide compensation for lost wages and medical care.
–A1858 Speight/ S228 Smith – A bill that would allow public bodies to conduct meetings by electronic means.
–A5021 Quijano – A measure that establishes an immigration unit within the New Jersey Office of Public Defender.