NEW BRUNSWICK – Richard F. Klineburger, III was sworn in as Treasurer of the New Jersey State Bar Association at its Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City. He is on track to become President of the Association in 2030.
Klineburger is the founding partner at the firm Klineburger Law, with offices in South Jersey and Pennsylvania. As Certified Criminal Trial Attorney, he has earned a reputation as a tough litigator in the practice of criminal, civil and complex litigation.
“Joining the NJSBA Executive Committee last year was a tremendous honor. I look forward to continuing my service to the Association and its membership in this new capacity and to all that we can achieve together,” Klineburger said.
A native of West Philadelphia, Klineburger completed his undergraduate studies from Neumann University where he graduated magna cum laude as a member of the Honors Program. He received his law degree from the Beasley School of Law at Temple University in 1995 earning Distinguished Class Performance in Evidence & Torts and was the recipient of the Barrister Award for Outstanding Performance in Trial Advocacy. He was subsequently admitted to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bars.
Following law school, Klineburger had the unique experience of serving in a judicial clerkship in two states. He originally clerked for Judge Thomas Dempsey of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania in the Family Court Division, Philadelphia Juvenile Unit and then clerked for New Jersey Superior Court Judge Timothy G. Farrell in Salem County.
Thereafter, Klineburger hung out his shingle in 1997, opening his own law firm. Since that time, Klineburger has been involved in high profile cases throughout the nation, including representing the estate of Akyra Murray, who was the youngest victim killed in the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., and advocated to allow the 911 calls to be released to Murray’s family. As quoted by the New York Times from the Hearing: “If nothing else,” Mr. Klineburger said, “my clients want to hear their daughter’s last words.” He is also currently representing the estate of Nicolas Cumer, who was one of the victims from the 2019 mass shooting which occurred at a popular nightlife area in Dayton, Ohio, in which nine people were fatally shot and 31 others were injured. Klinburger, along with attorneys from around the country filed this a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind lawsuit against the manufacturer of the 100-round magazine used in the shooting.
Klineburger has also argued two cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court in which both resulted in not only victories for his clients but created new law in New Jersey. These cases were:
Emma v. Evans, 215 N.J. 197 (2013) – The Court held that “the presumption in favor of the parent of primary residence when seeking, over the other parent’s objection, a change in the surname” of a child, does not apply to cases where the child was born in wedlock to parents who later divorce.
State v. Adkins, 221 N.J. 300 (2015) – The Court ruled that police generally must obtain a search warrant before they take blood from suspected intoxicated drivers must apply to any case currently in the courts.