Trusted Legal Advocacy Since 1936
Edwin R. Matthews
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Practice Areas:
- Civil Litigation
- Municipal Law
- Appellate Practice
- Personal Injury
- Products Liability
- Tax Appeals
Biography
Edwin Matthews' practice focuses on litigation and municipal law. He currently serves as Counsel to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. He served as Village Counsel for the Township of South Orange Village from 1994 to 2008 where he previously served as its Municipal Court Judge and as a member of its governing body. He has served as counsel for a defendant in the Agent Orange product liability litigation, the hemophiliac factor litigation, the phen fen litigation and numerous toxic tort cases involving asbestos, silica and leaking underground tanks. Ed has lectured frequently at seminars on trial tactics, product liability, rules of procedure and rules of evidence. He is a Master of the Worrall F. Mountain Inn of Court and has been an adjunct faculty member of the School of Law and a Master of the Inn of Court at Seton Hall University School of Law. He has served as a Mediator in several hundred mediations for the State and Federal Court programs as well as a privately retained Mediator. Ed has received appointments as Counsel for or Guardian Ad Litem for Alleged Incompetents.
Prior to attending law school, Ed served in the United States Marine Corps where he attained the rank of Captain. His service in the Marine Corps included a thirteen-month tour of duty in Viet Nam where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat V for Valor, Navy Commendation Medal with combat V for Valor, two Purple Heart Medals, the Combat Action Ribbon and the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal.
Upon graduation from law school, Ed clerked for Justice Mark A. Sullivan of the New Jersey Supreme Court, was an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and then was an associate and Partner with the law firm of Budd Larner prior to starting his own firms. Ed has been selected for inclusion in the New Jersey Super Lawyers 2009 through 2023. Also note he was reappointed by ELEC as General Counsel at their meeting on July 25th.
Education
- Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey
- J.D. - 1973
- College of the Holy Cross
- B.A. - 1966
Bar Admission
- New Jersey, 1973
- New York, 1985
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1979
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1983
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1973
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1984
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1984
- United States Supreme Court, 1986
Honors
- Twice recognized by the Attorney General of the United States for Sustained Superior Performance 1978, 1979
- Recipient of the 2010 Professionalism Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism
- Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, United States Marine Corps
- Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, United States Marine Corps
- Two Purple Heart Medals, United States Marine Corps
- Combat Action Ribbon, United States Marine Corps
- New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, United States Marine Corps
- Essex County New Jersey Veteran Award 2019
- Recipient of Daniel J. Golden Award for Life Time Achievement in 2022
Past Positions
- Township of South Orange Village, Village Counsel, 1994 to 2008
- Township of South Orange Village, Municipal Court Judge, 1990 to 1994
- Township of South Orange Village Board of Trustees, Member, 1985 to 1989
- Justice Mark A. Sullivan of the New Jersey Supreme Court , Law Clerk
- United States Marine Corps , 1966 to 1969
- Assistant United States Attorney - District of New Jersey, 1974 to 1980
Professional Associations
- New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission , Counsel, 2012 to Present
- United States District Court, Mediator
- New Jersey Courts, Mediator, President, Present
- United States District Court, Arbitrator, Present
- Committee on Character, Appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court, Member (1993-2008), Present
- District VB Fee Arbitration Committee, appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court, Member, 2019 to Present
- Board of Trustees, Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, (1988-Present), President (2004-2005), Parliamentarian (2005-Present)
- Worrall F. Mountain Inn of Court, Master
- Seton Hall University School of Law Inn of Court, Master
- Seton Hall University School of Law Adjunct Faculty , 1977 to 1985
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified Civil Trial Attorney