Inaugural Series Features Legal Panel
“The Elections of Judges: What’s So Ethical About THAT?”

The inaugural James Youngelson ’53 Lecture on Ethics and Responsibility took place on April 6 in Cowan Auditorium. This program presented a panel discussion – “The Elections of Judges: What’s So Ethical About THAT?” – by members of the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law and featured prominent New Jersey lawyers and judges discussing two recent U.S. Supreme Court opinions. This lecture series (established in April 2009 by Mr. Youngelson's sister and late brother-in law, Joan and Jonah Sherman) honors alumnus Jim Youngelson ’53 – an attorney and former president of the Morris County (N.J.) Bar Association – for his service to others and seeks to inspire in young people the ideals of justice, responsibility and service. Mr. Youngelson served as moderator for the panel. He is pictured with his sister, Joan, and wife, Terry.

The panelists discussed whether justice is truly served in the overall court system as a result of the fact that judges are elected in 39 of the 50 U.S. states (although under somewhat differing rules depending on the particular state). Mr. Youngelson notes, “This question becomes all the more fascinating when compared with the conclusions of our own Founding Fathers, especially John Adams, that federal judges should not be elected or made subject to re-election. Put another way: How best to maintain a more level judicial playing field whereby all our citizens would at least come away with the feeling they have been fairly treated, no matter what the outcome.”

Mr. Youngelson, an emeritus Trustee of Blair Academy, is counsel to the law firm of Dillon Bitar & Luther in Florham Park where he currently concentrates his practice on trusts and estates. He has been an active participant in organized bar activities, having served as president of the Morris County Bar Association and trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He has also served on numerous State Bar committees, including as chair of a committee that originally recommended the creation of a statewide Commission on Professionalism in the Law. Mr. Youngelson has also served as chair of the District Ethics Committee upon appointment by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. He has since been appointed to serve on the Supreme Court’s Board on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education that oversees the administration of required educational courses for all lawyers in the state. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard University School of Law.

Panelists include retired Judge John W. Bissell, counsel to the law firm of Connell Foley in Roseland. Judge Bissell served 27 years on both the state and federal courts in New Jersey, including a period as Chief Judge of the United States District Court. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was an Assistant United States Attorney and was in private practice with a major New Jersey law firm. Judge Bissell is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Virginia Law School.

Panelist Rayman L. Solomon has been dean and professor of law at Rutgers University School of Law-Camden since 1998. He currently serves as chair of the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. Prior to coming to Rutgers, Dean Solomon was associate dean at Northwestern University School of Law and associate director at the American Bar Foundation in Chicago. He graduated from Wesleyan University and holds a J.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago where he taught legal research and writing.

Panelist Karol Corbin Walker is a partner in the law firm of LeClair Ryan. She is a litigator with experience in the state and federal courts and has argued many cases before the Appellate Division of Superior Court. She has also appeared before the Supreme Court of New Jersey and the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Ms. Walker is recognized as the first African-American woman to gain a partnership with a major state law firm. In 2003, she became the first African-American president of the New Jersey State Bar Association, and she has served in numerous leadership positions within the association. She is a graduate of New Jersey City University and Seton Hall University School of Law.

Panelist Charles Hollenbeck is executive director of the Commission on Professionalism in the Law, one of the first such commissions in the nation devoted to improving the professional behavior of lawyers and judges. Mr. Hollenbeck assisted the American Bar Association in compiling a reference guide for bar associations seeking to implement professionalism commissions. He has been with the New Jersey State Bar Association for over 20 years and has served as interim executive director of the association and liaison with the state judiciary. He is a graduate of St. Peter’s College and Seton Hall University School of Law.

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Updated 4/7/2010

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