The following is a summary of actions taken at the May 18, 2016, meeting of the New Jersey State Bar Association Board of Trustees at the Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City. This summary does not constitute official minutes.
Government affairs: The board voted on two bills related to filing fees and criminal justice reforms. It opposed A3395/S2047, which would revise court filing fees, penalties and fines to fund pretrial services programs, and other efforts. It also authorized the Executive Committee to share the association’s concerns about the implementation of fee increases related to A3491, which would establish a County Government Criminal Justice Reform Administration Fund. The trustees noted that some of the increases are unfair and could prevent residents from being able to access the courts.
JPAC manual: The trustees approved an update to the Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee manual that would require the whole committee, rather than just the chairperson, to determine whether a candidate for reappointment should be interviewed.
Board welcomes new members: The governing body welcomed new members at its meeting. The new members of the Board of Trustees are: Diana C. Manning, who is the Morris County trustee; Jeffrey Fiorello, who is the Passaic County trustee; Tracy M. Thompson and Shirley B. Whitenack, who are at-large trustees; Marisa B. Trofimov, a Young Lawyers Division trustee; and Lynn Fontaine Newsome, a former president of the association who will serve as the New Jersey State Bar Foundation trustee. Immediate Past President Paris P. Eliades was also recognized.
In addition, a dozen past presidents of the association attended the meeting.
