FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kate Coscarelli [email protected] or 862-250-0571
ATLANTIC CITY: Robert B. Hille
last night became president of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the
state’s largest organization of lawyers, judges and legal professionals.
Hille said he was humbled and honored to serve as the 119th
president of the association. The Berkeley Heights resident is a partner with
the Morristown law firm McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter,
where he practices insurance and healthcare law.
Hille was sworn in at an installation held at the Borgata Hotel Casino
and Spa in Atlantic City. New Jersey Chief Justice Stuart Rabner administered
the oath of office for the one-year term.
Hille said he plans to focus the energies of the
association on advancing legislation that will put professionals on an even
playing field; boosting the efforts of solo and small-firm attorneys who not
only form the backbone of the profession but also make critical contributions
to the state’s economy; and fortifying the organization’s efforts on behalf of
veterans and a diversionary court to address their specific needs.
“We may be facing challenging times, but we are
in this together. Now is the time to be proactive. The NJSBA is prepared to
harness the momentum of the association to be proactive and work together with all three branches of government to ensure the profession
remains a thriving part of our democracy. The bar association is a vehicle to
help shape history, through our involvement in amicus matters, legislative advocacy and helping state and national
agencies study and create rules and regulations for the profession that make
sense,” Hille said.
In addition to Hille’s installation, other
members of the executive committee moved up the succession ladder. Each officer
holds the position for one year.s
·
John E. Keefe Jr., a civil trial lawyer from Red
Bank, became president-elect.
·
Evelyn Padin became first vice president. She is
a Jersey City solo practitioner.
·
Kimberly A. Yonta became second vice president.
She is a criminal defense attorney from Middlesex County.
·
Domenick Carmagnola, a labor and employment
attorney with offices in Morristown, became treasurer.
·
Jeralyn L. Lawrence, a family lawyer with
Norris, McLaughlin & Marcus in Bridgewater, became secretary.
Thomas H. Prol began a term as
immediate past president of the association.
During
his tenure as president, Prol continued to be a voice promoting the importance
of a fully staffed fair and impartial judicial branch, pursued the ratification
of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and was an outspoken
advocate for ensuring the public is served by licensed attorneys who are bound
to ethics rules.
“It has been a great privilege in my life to
serve as president of the state bar and to advocate on behalf of human dignity,
fairness and equality under law. I was proud to stand up and speak out on the
matters that affect attorneys, their practices and their clients. Members of our profession work every day in
this noble profession to move our nation toward that ‘more perfect union’
envisioned by our Constitution. The New Jersey State Bar Association has been
and will continue to be an important vehicle and catalyst for change,” he said,
adding, “Going forward, I will continue to work to improve the justice system,
and to protect the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary.”