COURT HOUSE — The Supreme Court will issue certificates thanking 117 volunteers who are concluding their four-year terms on the state’s 18 district ethics committees, announced Charles Centinaro, Director of the Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE). The district ethics committees investigate and prosecute ethics cases involving New Jersey attorneys.
The six members who have completed their terms in District I, which includes Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland and Salem counties, were Jacqueline M. Stiles, Chair of Northfield; Richard S. Mairone, of Linwood; Eileen Oakes Muskett, of Atlantic City; Alfred J. Verderose, of Vineland; Daniel T. Campbell, of Margate; and Rosalind Kincaid of Atlantic City. Their terms end on Aug. 31.
“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.
Currently there are 570 attorneys and public members who volunteer on the committees.
The district ethics committees are made up of attorneys and public members. Attorney members investigate and, if necessary, prosecute grievances docketed with the committee. Public members serve together with two attorneys on three-member panels that decide cases where formal complaints have been filed after investigations.
The state’s 18 districts are overseen by the OAE. Any recommended sanction recommended by the panel is reviewed by the state’s Disciplinary Review Board. Final discipline is imposed by the New Jersey Supreme Court, which reviews sanctions recommended from below.
The OAE maintains a comprehensive Web site, which can be accessed through the Judiciary Web site at njcourtsonline.com. In addition, clients wishing to file a grievance can call the automated OAE hotline at 1-800-406-8594. Callers need to enter the attorney’s office zip code to receive contact information for the secretary of the appropriate district committee.
The Supreme Court imposed final discipline on 167 attorneys last year. In addition, the Court issued 20 emergent sanctions to protect the public while discipline charges were pending.
According to the 2008 Attorney Discipline Report, some local residents who remain on the list of District I volunteers include: James B. Arsenault Jr., of Court House; Epiphany J. McGuigan, of Ocean City; Jane M. Hoy, of Stone Harbor; Andrew D. Catanese, Court House; Richard A. Russell, of Ocean City; and Thomas Gill, of Ocean City.
