NJSBA Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates for Leadership Positions | Deadline to submit a questionnaire is Dec. 15

The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Nominating Committee invites members to apply for the following positions, which will be open in May 2024. Various positions have specific criteria, as indicated below.

NOTE: This notice has been updated to reflect eligibility for section/committee trustee seats. 

NJSBA Officers: One-year terms for positions of President-Elect, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.

County Trustees: One seat (each for a two-year term). The following counties will seat new trustees: Bergen, Burlington, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem and Warren. The following counties have trustees whose current terms are concluding but who are eligible for renomination to a new term: Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Morris, and Passaic. 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: Three seats, each for a two-year term. Two of the positions have an incumbent trustee currently serving who is eligible for renomination for a new two-year term, and the third will seat a new trustee. 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: Business Law, Family Law, Municipal Court Practice, Labor and Employment, Solo and Small-Firm, and Women in the Profession sections.

At-Large Board of Trustees: Three seats, each for a two-year term, open to any general member of the New Jersey State Bar Association.* Two seats have incumbents who are eligible for reappointment to an additional term.

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 August 2024, however, individuals serving in these seats are incumbents.

Nominating Committee: Two seats, each for a two-year term, open to any member of the New Jersey State Bar Association.*

*Per Nov. 9, 2022, Order of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, now pending on appeal.

Criteria:

Candidates will be evaluated by the Nominating Committee for any of the available positions based on the following criteria:

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. 15. Letters may be addressed to James J. Uliano, 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.