The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) Board of Trustees took action on several measures at its May 17 meeting, including a pending bill on local civilian review boards of police.
The meeting was a hybrid, with some trustees attending in person at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick for the first time since the pandemic-related shutdown in March and others participating virtually.
The board voted on several pieces of pending legislation, including the following, which the trustees voted to support with amendments:
- A-4656 (McKnight)/S-2963 (Rice), authorizing the creation of local civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct and appropriate $800,000 (Amendments were considered to allow flexibility for communities to create and implement such boards dependent on size and specific issues; to include a mechanism for the removal of commissioners; and to include the right to subpoena electronically recorded evidence.)
The NJSBA Commission on Racial Equity in the Law (COREL) submitted an interim report to the board, which will now seek comments from the NJSBA’s sections and committees on the report’s preliminary recommendations. The board agreed to continue support of the COREL’s objectives.
Changing of the guard
Eight new trustees were introduced to the board. They are: Dara A. Quattrone, Atlantic County; Daniel M. Kurkowski, Cape May County; Robert Scrivo, Essex County; Kristyl Berckes, Somerset County; Janine M. Cerra, Sussex County; Sheryl Seiden, Family Law Section; Ryan J. Gaffney, Young Lawyers Division; and Kathleen N. Fennelly, New Jersey State Bar Foundation president.
The board also recognized the following outgoing trustees, including: Alan J. Cohen, Atlantic County; Carol N. Goloff, Cape May County; Jodi L. Rosenberg, Essex County; Diane K. Smith, Somerset County; Lauren D. Fraser, Sussex County; Alexander V. Gallo, section/ committee trustee; and Rajeh A. Saadeh, Young Lawyers Division.
NJSBA Immediate Past President Evelyn Padin expressed her thanks to the Executive Committee, board and NJSBA staff. She urged the Association to stay active and focused on advocating for access to justice, adding that it is important to provide services to people who are disenfranchised and don’t have access to lawyers. Padin also praised the strength and commitment of the Association in response to the public health pandemic.
“Keep up the good work. This is a great Association. Thank you for allowing me to serve you,” she said.