Dear All :
First, I want to thank all of the attorneys, sitting and former judges, and other family court-related professionals who have continuously extended their thoughts and well wishes upon my retirement and departure from the Bench and over the past four months. Your sentiments and support of my decision have sincerely meant the world to me , and I am very proud that I was able to serve the legal community to your satisfaction.
Second, in addition to other ongoing projects of which many of you are aware, I am also commencing statewide mediation and arbitration services in both family law and other aspects of civil litigation. Last month, in this particular online forum, there was a discussion of circulating a list of former judges who are presently engaging in mediation. I would appreciate very much if you would add my name to that list.
As a general principle, whether litigants mediate or simply engage in a settlement conference, I would encourage all counsel to always focus on the absolute truism that any case can be peacefully and fairly settled with reason and understanding. This statement is fundamentally critical to our court system, and it is difficult to imagine any matter cannot, with some degree of creativity and balance, be resolved.
Thank you all again for your support and your positive words and comments. I have missed all of you and am anxious to once again return, albeit in a different role than in my two prior roles as (1) a practicing lawyer and (2) a sitting judge. Hopefully in my new role, I can continue to be of assistance to New Jersey's legal community.
Thank you all again and best regards,
Lawrence R. Jones