Judge Gallipoli Named as Co-chair of NJSBA Judicial Independence Task Force

NJSBA President Ralph J. Lamparello named retired Judge Maurice J. Gallipoli, who served as Assignment Judge in Hudson County, and retired Appellate Division Judge Dorothea O’C. Wefing, co-chairs of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Task Force on Judicial Independence. Additional members of the task force, including retired jurists, lawyers, academics and lay people, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Judge Gallipoli stated that he accepted the appointment with a full measure of humility and apprehension, given the many people in the legal community who are qualified for the position and the significance of the task ahead.  Gallipoli stated, “The work of the task force will be to inquire, listen, and learn, and then to make good-faith recommendations and suggestions seeking to insure a renewed and continuing respect for the concept of judicial independence here in New Jersey, especially as it has reference to the judicial appointment and reappointment process.”

The Hon. Maurice Gallipoli joined the bench after over 20 years in private practice. Then-Gov. Kean appointed him to the bench in 1987. He served in the Civil Division and eventually became presiding judge of the division. He became the Hudson County Assignment Judge in 2004, and served in that capacity until his retirement last year. He is now of counsel to Porzio, Bromberg, & Newman continuing his distinguished career in litigation and dispute resolution,  providing third-party neutral services.