The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Board of Trustees acted on several measures at its April meeting.
On a recommendation by the NJSBA Family Law Section, the Board voted to send a proposal for the Judiciary to consider amending Evidence Rule 608. The proposed change would allow for examination into specific instances of unlawful conduct to attack a witness’s credibility in the Family Part, as is allowed in criminal matters. The proposal includes an exception in cases involving Title IX or 30.
The Board approved a recommendation that the state Supreme Court end the practice of charging parents for costs associated with their child being in foster care, and consider how the process can be streamlined in child welfare proceedings. The recommendation, submitted by the Child Welfare Law Section, follows guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create more equitable child support and child welfare programs.
The trustees reappointed NJSBA representatives to the New Jersey State Bar Foundation Board of Trustees—Kelly Ann Bird of Gibbons P.C.; Craig Compoli and NJSBA Trustee Alexandra Gallo of O’Toole Scrivo LLC; Katrina Homel, legal counsel for the New Jersey School Boards Association; Mikeisha Anderson Jones, global chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Milbank; NJSBA Trustee Tom Manzo of Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein & Blader, P.C.; and Loren Pierce of Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C.
The Board supported the following bills in the state Legislature:
• A3836 Stanley—a bill that requires a motor vehicle lease agreement to include an additional disclosure identifying all fees that may apply at the end of a lease agreement. The Board supported the bill with amendments that would provide additional protections for consumers who enter into motor vehicle lease agreements.
• A4723 McKeon / S2740 Codey—a measure that requires a motor vehicle dealer to delete personal information from motor vehicle computer system prior to resale or lease. The Board supported the bill with amendments to add a mechanism that protects consumer data.
• S54 Corrado / A5061 Matsikoudis—a bill that establishes a minimum level of domestic violence and sexual assault training for judges and judicial personnel.
• S2081 Greenstein / A3147 DeAngelo —a measure that expands the powers and duties of state police in missing person cases to issue administrative subpoenas an d seek subpoenas, warrants and court orders concerning any case involving a high-risk missing person.
• A4444 Jasey / A4471 Flynn / S709 Codey—a bill that upgrades assault charges against sports officials to aggravated assault if committed while the official is engaged in duties, is traveling to or from a sports event or because of the person’s status as a sports official.
• S3346 Sarlo / A5035 Speight—a measure that upgrades burglary of a residence to a second-degree crime. The Board supported the bill, but took no position on a provision that would qualify the crime under the No Early Release Act.