Hackensack-based law firm Pashman Stein Walder Hayden is pleased to announce that Partner Justin P. Walder has been selected as one of the two recipients for the New Jersey State Bar Foundation Medal of Honor Award. TheNew Jersey State Bar Foundation’s fundamental purpose is to make a difference in people’s lives by helping them better understand the laws that affect them every day. The Foundation serves the public, educators, students and attorneys of New Jersey.

The New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s Medal of Honor Award is given annually to lawyers and law-related professionals, as well as lay people, who best exemplify either or both of the following criteria:

• significant contribution to the advancement or improvement of the justice system or the betterment of the legal profession in New Jersey
• professional excellence as demonstrated by accomplishments in the law; or service to the profession and the community during their careers.

Justin Walder along with the Hon. Linda R. Feinberg, will be honored at the Awards Dinner on Monday, September 17, 2018 at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, NJ.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Justin Walder. “I credit the extraordinary team at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden. They provide tremendous resources, and I am blessed to be part of an amazing group of attorneys who are truly dedicated to justice and the practice of law in keeping with the highest standards of our profession. To receive this honor from The New Jersey State Bar Foundation is one of the proudest moments of my career.”

Justin’s leadership was recognized by his peers in law school. He was admitted to practice in 1961 and is actively engaged in the practice of law as a partner of Pashman Stein Walder Hayden where he co-chairs the Litigation Department. As a young lawyer in the Attorney General’s Office, he successfully defended the constitutionally of the Sunday closing laws. As an Assistant Essex County Prosecutor, he successfully prosecuted cases in which the death penalty was imposed six times, and as Chief Economic Crimes he prosecuted the largest Ponzi scheme case in the State. In 1971, he was recognized by the New Jersey State Bar Association as the Outstanding Young Attorney of New Jersey (lawyers up to 35 years old).

During his career, Justin has represented lawyers, judges, law firms, public officials and many corporate clients in Federal and State Court matters. As his resume indicates, over his career he has been the recipient of the Justice Brennan Award presented by the Federal Bar, the Justice O’Hern Award by the State Bar, the Judge Whipple Award by the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the N.J. Association of Justice (O’Connor Award).

In 2012, he represented a Superior Court Judge in which the NJ Supreme Court agreed that the Pension and Healthcare Benefits Act, which subjects sitting Justices and Judges to increases in their pension and health contributions, violates the New Jersey Constitution.

In 2016, he was successful in obtaining an unprecedented decision by the NJ Supreme Court immediately reinstating a lawyer who had been disbarred by the NJ Supreme Court. This past year Justin ended his six-year term as the State Chair of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. Justin is clearly worthy of consideration as the 2018 recipient of the Medal of Honor as exemplified by his consistent professional commitment in keeping with the highest ideals of the profession.

About Pashman Stein Walder Hayden

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden is a full-service mid-size business law firm offering a wide range of corporate and personal legal services. Headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey with an office in Red Bank, New Jersey, the firm serves a diverse client base including regional Fortune 500 companies, emerging growth entities, and individuals, as well as out-of-state corporate counsel, law firms and individuals with interests in the New York metropolitan region. For more information, please visit www.pashmanstein.com.