NJSBA Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates for Leadership Positions

November 12, 2021
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kate Coscarelli
732-937-7548
     
The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Nominating Committee invites members to apply for the following positions, which will be open in May 2022. 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 as the current trustees have reached their term limit: Morris and Passaic. The following counties have trustees whose current terms have expired but who are eligible for reappointment to a new term: Bergen, Burlington, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Salem and Warren. 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] 
• At-Large Trustees: Three seats, each for a two-year term (two current trustees whose seats are designated for an Asian/Pacific American attorney and for an Hispanic/Latino/a/x attorney, respectively, are eligible for reappointment to a new term; a new trustee will be seated for an open At-Large Trustee position). At-Large Trustees shall represent segments of the membership not adequately represented on the Board of Trustees. [Article VI, 4(d)] This year, two seats are specifically designated as follows: One for an Asian/Pacific American attorney and one for an Hispanic/Latino/a/x. One additional seat is for a general At-Large member. The At-Large designated seats are open to members who are in any of the following under-represented groups: Hispanic/Latino/a/x, Asian/Pacific American, Black/African American, LGBT[Q+], women, lawyers over the age of 70, attorneys with disabilities/differing abilities and attorneys who are members of a diversity bar association listed in the NJSBA Policy Manual. 
• Section/Committee Trustees: Three seats, each for a two-year term (three current trustees are eligible for reappointment to a new 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: Women in the Profession Section, Family Law Section, Solo and Small-Firm Section, Health Law Section, Labor and Employment Law Section and Child Welfare 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: Two seats, each for a full, two-year term, which begin at the conclusion of the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Aug. 2022. Two incumbent delegates are eligible for reappointment. 
• Nominating Committee: Two seats, each for a two-year term. One seat is open to any general member, however, individuals serving in these seats may not be from the same county. As Hudson County is already represented, members from that county may not apply. One additional seat is designated as an At-Large seat for a member from an underrepresented group. The designated underrepresented groups are: Hispanic/Latino/a/x, Asian/Pacific American, Black/African American, LGBT[Q+], women, lawyers over the age of 70, attorneys with disabilities/differing abilities and attorneys who are members of a diversity bar association listed in the NJSBA Policy Manual. [Article VIII(2)(g) and (h)] 
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 as indicated below. After receipt of a letter of intention, a questionnaire will be forwarded to the prospective candidate by email. Completed questionnaires must be received by the committee no later than 12 p.m., Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. Letters may be emailed to Angela Scheck, Executive Director, as follows: [email protected] Please also direct any questions regarding procedure to Ms. Scheck by email or phone at 732-937-7500.