NJSBA Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates for Leadership Positions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2022
Contact: Thomas Nobile
Director of Communications
Tel: 732-937-7527
[email protected] 
    
The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Nominating Committee invites members to apply for the following positions, which will be open in May 2023. Various positions have specific criteria, as indicated below. 
     
NJSBA Officers: One-year terms for positions of President-Elect, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. 
     
NJSBA Board of Trustees: The following trustee positions: 
County Trustees: One seat (each for a two-year term). The following counties will seat new trustees: Camden, Cape May, Ocean and Union. The following counties have trustees whose current terms are concluding but who are eligible for renomination to a new term: Atlantic, Essex, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset and Sussex.  For purposes of being eligible to be a county trustee, at the time of election trustees shall meet one of the following criteria: (1) the county trustee's home is located in the county; (2) the county trustee's office is located in the county; or (3) the county is the county trustee's primary county of practice, and they are a member of the county bar association. [Article III, 1] 
     
Section/Committee Trustees: Six seats, each for a two-year term. Three of these positions are open with no incumbent trustee eligible for renomination. The remaining three positions have an incumbent trustee currently serving who is eligible for renomination for a new two-year term.  Section/Committee Trustees are elected from among the membership of NJSBA sections and committees. Candidates for Section/Committee Trustee must submit a completed sponsorship form from at least one sponsoring section or committee, which may have been voted on by the entire section or committee, or by the section or committee’s governing body. Sections and committees are prohibited from sponsoring more than one candidate for Section/Committee Trustee during any nomination cycle and are prohibited from having more than one sponsored Section/Committee Trustee serve on the Board of Trustees at any one time. [Article VI, 4(c), Article VIII, 3(d)] Sections and committees already represented on the board, which are precluded this year from sponsoring a candidate, include: Criminal Law Section, Civil Trial Bar Section, and the Immigration Law Section. 
     
Young Lawyers Division Trustee: One seat (for a two-year term). The Young Lawyers Division trustee must be a member of the Young Lawyers Division. [Article VI, 4(a)] 
     
ABA House of Delegates: Three seats, each for a full, two-year term, which begin at the conclusion of the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in August 2023. One seat is reserved for a member of the Young Lawyers Division.   
     
Nominating Committee: Two seats, each for a two-year term. Two seats are open to any general member, however, individuals serving in these seats may not be from the same county. As Morris County is already represented, members from that county may not apply. 
     
* Notice for the at-large seats on the Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee is delayed due to ongoing litigation.
     
Click here to read the NJSBA Bylaws 
     
Criteria: 
Candidates will be evaluated by the Nominating Committee for any of the available positions based on the following criteria [Article VIII, 3(a)]: 
    
    1.   Ability to fulfill the duties of the position, including regular attendance at Board of Trustees, Nominating Committee or ABA meetings. 
    2.   Adherence to the highest standards of fairness, professional responsibility, civility and professionalism; 
    3.   The quality of prior service to the organized bar; 
    4.   Prior or present leadership positions and degree of effectiveness in these positions; 
    5.   Dedication, capacity for hard work, and ability to fulfill all relevant duties; 
    6.   Awareness of the NJSBA’s internal structure, in particular the duties for the position sought; 
    7.   Demonstrated ability to synthesize and understand extensive information; 
    8.   Demonstrated common sense, good judgment and the ability to articulate positions intelligently; 
    9.   Prior service to the New Jersey State Bar Association and its constituent parts; 
    10. Prior service to county and specialty bar associations; 
    11. Extent of practice in the state of New Jersey; 
    12. Geographical balance of the NJSBA leadership, 
    13. Especially for officer positions, demonstrated administrative capability and experience, and recognition and understanding of the essential issues facing the organized bar, the profession, and capacity to lead in a responsible fashion. 
    
Filing Deadline: In order for each candidate to qualify for consideration by the Nominating Committee, a letter/email stating the intention to seek a specific elective position should be submitted by email.  Upon receipt of a letter of intention, a questionnaire will be forwarded to the prospective candidate by email. Completed questionnaires must be received no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. Letters may be addressed to Amy Shimalla, Chair, NJSBA Nominating Committee and emailed to Angela Scheck, Executive Director, at [email protected]  Please also direct any questions regarding procedure to Ms. Scheck by email or phone at 732-937-7500.