The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Nominating Committee invites members to apply for the following positions, which will be open in May 2026. 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.
County Trustees: Each position for a two-year term. The following counties will seat a new trustee: Cumberland, Hudson and Mercer. The following counties have trustees whose current terms are concluding but who are eligible for nomination to a new term: Bergen, Burlington, Essex, Gloucester, Morris, Passaic, 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]
Section/Committee Trustees: Three seats, each for a two-year term. One position is for a new trustee and two of the positions have an incumbent trustee currently serving who is eligible for nomination for a new, two-year 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 are precluded this year from sponsoring a candidate. Precluded this year are: Business Law Section, Family Law Section, Labor and Employment Law Section, Lawyer Well-Being Committee, Municipal Court Practice Section and Solo and Small-Firm Section.
At-Large Board of Trustees: Three trustees, each for a two-year term. One position is for a new trustee and two of the positions have an incumbent trustee currently serving who is eligible for renomination for a new two-year term. At-Large Trustees shall represent segments of the membership not adequately represented on the Board of Trustees. [Article VI, 4(d)] This year, At-Large seats are open to members who are in any of the following under-represented groups, as determined annually by the Board of Trustees: Hispanic/Latino/a/x; Asian/Pacific American; Black/African American; LGBTQ+; women; lawyers over the age of 70; attorneys with disabilities/differing abilities; and attorneys who are members of a diversity bar association as recognized in the NJSBA Policy Manual at Section IV, Paragraph 1. (See footnote below)
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 two-year term, which begin at the conclusion of the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in August 2026. Incumbent delegates are eligible to be reappointed to a new, two-year term.
Nominating Committee: Two seats, each for a two-year term. One seat is open to any member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the other seat is reserved for an NJSBA member who is in any of the following under-represented groups, as determined annually by the Board of Trustees: Hispanic/Latino/a/x; Asian/Pacific American; Black/African American; LGBTQ+; women; lawyers over the age of 70; attorneys with disabilities/differing abilities; and attorneys who are members of a diversity bar association as recognized in the NJSBA Policy Manual at Section IV, Paragraph 1. (See footnote below)
Criteria:
Candidates will be evaluated by the Nominating Committee for any of the available positions based on the following criteria:
• Ability to fulfill the duties of the position, including regular attendance at Board of Trustees, Nominating Committee or ABA meetings.
• Adherence to the highest standards of fairness, professional responsibility, civility and professionalism;
• The quality of prior service to the organized bar;
• Prior or present leadership positions and degree of effectiveness in these positions;
• Dedication, capacity for hard work, and ability to fulfill all relevant duties;
• Awareness of the NJSBA’s internal structure, in particular the duties for the position sought;
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize and understand extensive information;
• Demonstrated common sense, good judgment and the ability to articulate positions intelligently;
• Prior service to the New Jersey State Bar Association and its constituent parts;
• Prior service to county and specialty bar associations;
• Extent of practice in the state of New Jersey;
• Geographical balance of the NJSBA leadership,
• 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. 12. Letters of intention may be addressed to Domenick Carmagnola, 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.
Footnote: Pursuant to Section IV, Paragraph 1 of the NJSBA Policy Manual: When used in the NJSBA Bylaws, the term, “Diversity Bar Associations” shall refer to: Asian Pacific Lawyers of New Jersey, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, Association of Portuguese Speaking Attorneys of New Jersey, Caribbean Bar Association of New Jersey, Garden State Bar Association, Haitian American Lawyers of New Jersey, Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, Jewish Bar Association of New Jersey, Korean Bar Association of New Jersey, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association and South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey.