At its January meeting, the New Jersey State Bar Association’s (NJSBA) Board of Trustees supported several pending pieces of legislation, and it commented on New Jersey Supreme Court proposals related to fee-shifting retainer agreements and pro bono representation by some law students in tax court.
The board supported A-1978 (Mukherji), which would provide that a defendant who participated in a diversion program for certain marijuana offenses on prior occasion may again participate under certain circumstances. And the trustees supported S-660 (Oroho) which would establish that “100% disabled veterans” are not required to submit to the Motor Vehicle Commission certain documentation to renew parking privileges.
The board considered several Court proposals. In the first, it made nine specific comments to a Court report proposal related to fee-shifting retainer agreements. The board also supported a Court proposal, but with some adjustments, to allow some law students to appear pro bono in tax court in certain instances and with attorney supervision. The NJSBA recommended the proposal define law student as someone who has completed one-third of their course requirement for graduation, and include law graduates and a role for a student’s law school.
“The NJSBA applauds the efforts of the Court to expand access to legal assistance at all levels, while providing pro bono opportunities for law students early in their careers. The proposal will also introduce law students to one of the many ways they can give back from their first days in the profession,” NJSBA President Domenick Carmagnola wrote in letter sent last week to the Judiciary.
The board filled a pair of vacancies, which included swearing in John Macce as a Hunterdon County trustee on the board. Macce, a founder of Macce & Cresti in Clinton, filled a vacancy created when Diana Fredericks resigned. The board also approved Michael G. Donahue III, managing shareholder of Stark & Stark in Princeton, to fill a vacancy on the NJSBA Nominating Committee.