NJSBA installs new president, slate of officers

Timothy F. McGoughran took the oath of office Thursday as president of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) for the 2023–2024 term, assuming leadership over the state’s largest organization of legal professionals.
   
New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner swore in McGoughran at the NJSBA’s Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City. A host of McGoughran’s friends, family and colleagues—along with the NJSBA’s Executive Committee and Board of Trustees—were on hand to watch the Ocean Township family law attorney become the 125th president to lead the Association.
   
In a speech at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, McGoughran said he plans to focus his term on going back to basics to help members, by boosting membership, promoting member benefits and furthering the Association’s advocacy on issues that matter to everyone in the profession like the state’s judicial vacancy crisis and attorney wellness.
   
“I thought after the last few chaotic years it might be nice to get back to our basic mission—to serve, protect, foster and promote the personal and professional interests of our members. That’s the first line of our mission statement and the first line of my mission statement for the upcoming year. We can’t solve the world’s problems if we can’t make life a little easier for our members,” McGoughran said.
   
For the year, McGoughran’s keynote project is a new committee to create uniformity in mental health diversionary programs in the state. While serving as a municipal court judge, he saw firsthand how substance abuse and mental health issues are among the primary drivers of crime for lower-level criminals. The committee will bring together prosecutors, mental health professionals and the judiciary to brainstorm how to put mental health diversionary programs in every courthouse.
    
McGoughran said he also plans to continue the NJSBA’s advocacy on reducing the statute of limitations in professional malpractice cases to two years, implementing the recommendations of the Putting Lawyers First Task Force and ending the Madden system of assigned counsel. 
   
“There is a lot to do and so little time, but our team is up to the task, and we promise to work hard and try to make you proud. My door is always open, and I ask that if you have any concerns, I am here to listen and try to help,” McGoughran said. 
   
McGoughran is the founding member of the Law Office of Timothy F. McGoughran, a family law firm he manages in Ocean Township with his wife, Allison. He provides counsel on all aspects of family law, from divorce proceedings, alimony and child custody to asset protection and domestic violence cases. McGoughran is also a former municipal court judge in Monmouth County. 
   
In addition to McGoughran’s installation, other members of the Executive Committee moved up the succession ladder and were sworn in by Chief Justice Rabner. Each officer holds the position for one year.
• William H. Mergner Jr. became president-elect. He practices civil litigation in Cedar Knolls.
• Christine A. Amalfe became first vice president. She is a labor and employment law attorney in Newark.
• Norberto A. Garcia became second vice president. He specializes in medical malpractice law in Jersey City.
• G. Glennon Troublefield became treasurer. He specializes civil litigation and intellectual property in Roseland.
• Diana C. Manning joined the Executive Committee as secretary. She practices complex commercial litigation in Florham Park. 
• Jeralyn L. Lawrence, a family law attorney based in Watchung, began a term as immediate past president of the Association.
Under Lawrence’s leadership over the past year, the NJSBA put attorney wellness and quality of life in the legal profession a at the forefront of its mission. Lawrence formed the Putting Lawyers First Task Force, a collective of more than 50 attorneys who produced a wide-ranging report on the decline of mental health and wellness among New Jersey’s legal practitioners, the primary drivers of stress for attorneys and an action plan to improve well-being.
     
“I know that I will reflect on the whirlwind of these months as president in the years ahead with a sense of pride, gratitude and honor. I am grateful to my colleagues for their love and support,” Lawrence said. “Congratulations to my dear friend Timothy McGoughran, who will begin what I know will be a successful term as president. I am excited to see what more this Association can do for lawyers, the clients we serve and the public.”
   
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2023
Contact: Thomas Nobile
Director of Communications
Tel: 732-937-7527
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