The following is a summary of actions taken at the Feb. 12, 2016,
meeting of the New Jersey State Bar Association Board of Trustees at the New
Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick. This summary does not constitute official
minutes.
Leadership candidates:
The New Jersey State
Bar Association’s Board of Trustees issued a nominations report listing those
candidates nominated for leadership positions for the term commencing May 2016
(Article IV, para. 7). All candidates were additionally vetted and reviewed by
the Nominating Committee, as per the bylaws. The candidate list can be found at
njsba.com. If no nominations by
petition are received 30 days following circulation of the Feb. 12 notice (by
March 14), in accordance with the NJSBA bylaws, the individuals will be
considered elected by acclamation. The installation of officers and trustees
will take place at the Annual Meeting and Convention on May 19.
Bylaws update: The
Board of Trustees approved a slate of proposed changes to the association’s
bylaws. The changes are the product of nearly three years of work by the Bylaws
and Resolutions Committee. Prior to board adoption, the proposals were also
shared with every section, commission and division of the NJSBA, as well as
county and specialty bar associations. The changes are meant to modernize and
streamline the bylaws that guide the state’s largest association of judges,
lawyers and legal professionals. The chief goal of updating the bylaws is
simple — make them precise, consistent and, most importantly, easy for members
to read and use.
In related
action, the board approved Intelliscan Inc. as the election administrator for
the voting on the proposed bylaws changes, and any potential candidate
election. Voting will begin next month.
Future of legal services:
With the American Bar Association’s adoption of Resolution 105 and increased attention on Internet-based
legal services outlets, the New Jersey State Bar Association has formed a
committee to examine how to address the intersection of unmet legal needs of
the public and the unauthorized practice of law. The association has been an outspoken critic of
proposals that would allow non-lawyers the ability to perform some legal work.
The association believes that would pose significant risks to both the public
and the justice system.
Amicus: The trustees agreed the association should participate
as a friend-of-the-court in State v. Scott
Robertson. The case asks what
is the appropriate standard for a stay pending appeal in matters involving the
suspension of a motor vehicle license from a judgment issued in the municipal
court and is on appeal.
Pro bono rules: The trustees supported sending a letter to the
Administrative Office of the Courts asking for clarification on the newly
adopted Rule 1:21-11. The new rule has to do with the
way pro bono organizations, other
than those affiliated with Legal Services of New Jersey, report information to
the courts about their volunteers each year.
Legislation: The
trustees supported several pieces of legislation, including A-2342, which provides that certain personal
identifying information may be redacted from various public records in special
circumstances; S-319,
which clarifies the right to recover certain uncompensated medical expenses
under private passenger automobile insurance; and S-524, which authorizes courts to include
protection of children who are born if a woman is pregnant when a domestic
violence restraint is ordered.
In-house counsel
committee: The association will form a new special committee for in-house
counsel to help association members in the field come together to share their
unique practice perspective. The committee will aim to provide professional
development opportunities; offer networking for in-house counsel; and create
educational programming specific to issues affecting in-house counsel like
fulfilling ethical obligations to the corporate client or retaining private
practice counsel.
