Joshua H. Reinitz

Of Council

CERTIFIED BY THE NJ SUPREME COURT AS A MUNICIPAL LAW ATTORNEY

Joshua H. Reinitz is of counsel with the firm. He provides compassionate, vigorous representation to achieve desired results for clients. He was elected Trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Association, chosen as the 2019 New Jersey State Bar Association Municipal Court Practitioner of the Year, received the New Jersey State Bar’s Amicus & Advocacy Award, and served in the past as Chair of the Municipal Court Practice Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He also co-authored an Amicus Brief in State v. Olenowski before the NJ Supreme Court on behalf of the State Bar Association. Josh focuses on representing individuals facing criminal and DWI charges throughout the State of New Jersey. He also has more than a decade of experience representing union members in civil, criminal, and administrative matters throughout New Jersey in interviews, disciplinary hearings, de novo trials, appeals, and lawsuits.

He was a member of the first-ever class of 21 attorneys statewide to be Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Municipal Law Attorney; chosen by the New Jersey State Bar Association for its inaugural Leadership Academy Fellows. He was further appointed by the Chief Justice to Chair the New Jersey Supreme Court Municipal Court Certification Committee and to serve on the Board of Attorney Certification and as the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Designee on the Municipal Court Practice Committee since 2017. Josh was twice elected a Member of the Council of the Borough of Fair Lawn, with a background that includes real-world business experience and success leading operations for an elite college basketball program.

Josh was named one of 47 under 40 attorneys statewide to the list of 2016 New Leaders of the Bar by the New Jersey Law Journal. He has had multiple successes overturning/vacating convictions on direct appeal and post-conviction relief and resolving matters to allow clients with immigration issues to stay in the country.

Josh has delivered rigorous defense in and out of court, including researching, crafting/arguing motions, negotiating favorable outcomes, trying the case to verdict, and, if necessary, filing, briefing, and arguing appeals. Some of his key achievements include:

• Overturned Multiple Guilty verdicts on Appeal
• Tried DWI & Refusal Cases to Verdict – representing clients throughout the State from Atlantic to Sussex Counties.
• Represented defendants in Federal Criminal matters pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act
• Second-chaired Superior Court Murder and Official Misconduct Trials in Essex, Passaic, and Sussex Counties.
  • Fully participated in strategic and tactical planning from jury voir dire through post-trial motions. Briefed and argued evidentiary and substantive motions and examined witnesses.
• Dozens of DWI cases dismissed due to Motion Practice or Pre-Trial Litigation Strategies
• Represented police officers sued civilly in 1983 cases in Federal District Court: prepared pleadings, discovery requests/responses, deposed plaintiff, defended client’s deposition, and successfully settled the matter without the client having to admit guilt or contribute to the settlement.
• Defended police officers in disciplinary hearings, appeals, and de novo administrative hearings – handled cases from initial intake and discovery review, conducted and defended depositions, motion practice, and trial.
• Two Published Decisions State v. Barros 425 N.J.Super.  329 (App. Div. 2012); State v. Tedesco 214 N.J. 177 (2013).

Education & Professional Development

• Juris Doctor – Rutgers School of Law, Newark, NJ – 2003
  • Second Place Brief, Moot Court Competition ∙ Mock Trial Competition ∙ Urban Legal Criminal Defense Section Participant
• Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice – Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ – 1999
  • Minor in English ∙ Dean’s List ∙ Garden State Scholar
• Selected courses taught through the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education:
  • Negotiating, How to Seal that Deal, What to do When You Get that Call, Municipal Court Reform, Winning Strategies in Municipal Court, The Tricks of the Trade for Handling Your 1st or 50th Municipal Court Matter, Municipal Court College, , Intro. to Motion Practice and Trial Techniques in Municipal Court, Lessons from the Leaders: Practical Advice on Success, DWI Institute, Representing Clients in Municipal Court, Hot Tips for Hot Litigators, Screen It then Refer or Keep It, Municipal Court 101, Trial Basics, Handling Drug, DWI &Serious Motor Vehicle Cases in Municipal Court, Dealing with Pro Se Litigants

Bar Associations

• New Jersey State Bar Association – Trustee
• Past Chair, Municipal Court Section; Member, Judicial Administration Committee, Standing Committee on Legislation; Fellow, Lecturer & Selection Committee Member, Leadership Academy Fellow & Mentor
• New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics – District V-C Fee Arbitration Committee – Panelist 2015-2019

Governmental Experience

• Councilman, Borough of Fair Lawn – January 2018 – Present – Served as Councilmember, Deputy Mayor of Community Affairs, and Deputy Mayor