COURT HOUSE — One of Cape May County’s staff lawyers will soon receive a certificate of thanks from the state Supreme Court for serving the past four years as a volunteer for the Office of Attorney Ethics.
Assistant County Counsel James Arsenault was one of 99 volunteers mentioned in a press release issued Thur., Sept. 2 by Attorney Ethics Director Charles Centinaro.
“Because of your selfless and untiring contribution of time and talent in the performance of your duties, the Judiciary, the legal profession and the citizens of New Jersey are assured a higher degree of accountability, legal competence and ethical conduct from those who serve the public in the practice of law,” the certificate reads in part.
Arsenault, told the Herald the experience of being on the committee was both “positive and enlightening.”
“It’s a big responsibility to be a part of the Office of Attorney Ethics,” Arsenault said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
Arsenault explained that ethics committees are broken down by local jurisdiction. Statewide, there are 18 district ethics committees. The district ethics committees investigate and prosecute ethics cases involving New Jersey attorneys.
Arsenault served on the District I Ethics Committee for Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties. He said any grievances against attorneys those counties would go through the local committee.
“Committee members can be asked to participate in the process in any number of roles,” Arsenault said, including as an investigator, presenter or panel member. He said ethics panels are made up of two attorneys and one public member.
Statewide, there are 572 attorneys and public members who volunteer on the committees.
Cases against attorneys must find “clear and convincing evidence” of wrongdoing, Arsenault said. If found, an ethics panel makes a recommendation to the Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Review Board, which then imposes final discipline. The Supreme Court imposed final discipline on 148 attorneys and 25 emergent sanctions last year.
Arsenault started his tenure on the ethics committee in 2006, the same year he became assistant county counsel. He started with the county under Counsel John Porto, who was appointed a family court judge in Cape May County Superior Court in January.
Arsenault now serves under Barbara Bakley-Marino who was appointed county counsel by freeholders on Tue., July 13.
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Do you think it's appropriate for BLM to call for "Burning down the city" and "Black Vigilantes" because…
