NJ Supreme Court Nominee a Madison Resident

A Madison resident who has nearly three decades of legal experience and is president of the state Board of Public Utilities has been nominated to the New Jersey Supreme Court by Gov. Chris Christie.

A news release from the governor's office about his nomination of Robert Hanna and Judge David Bauman of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County, said the nominees are "exceptionally qualified, accomplished individuals."

"I thank each of these very accomplished, capable individuals for their willingness to serve on the Supreme Court," Christie said. "Not only would Bob and David make outstanding justices, but their nominations also expand the diversity of background, strong experience and qualifications of the Court membership—a point made most clear by each man's previous, unanimous endorsement by the New Jersey Senate. Bob and David already have extensive records of public service and accomplishment, and New Jersey is fortunate to have such remarkable individuals continue their service on our state’s highest court."

Hanna, 54, a lawyer with nearly 30 years of legal experience, has served as the President of the Board of Public Utilities since December 2011. For the two years prior to that, he served as Director of the Division of Law and Assistant Attorney General within the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety.

Hanna also served for 16 years in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, including approximately four years as the chief of the Securities and Health Fraud Unit, where he supervised 10 prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of major federal securities and health care fraud cases. Hanna also has 10 years of prior private sector legal experience with the firms Gibbons P.C. and Cahill, Gordon & Reindel. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Manhattan College and received his law degree from Fordham University, where he served on the Law Review staff, the news release says.

Bauman, 56, sits as the presiding judge for the Civil Division in Monmouth County. After 17 years in private practice, Bauman was nominated in 2008 for the post by then-Gov. Jon Corzine. He was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and confirmed by the full Senate 37-0. A veteran, Bauman served four years on active duty with the United States Marine Corps, and an additional 12 years as a reservist. On active duty, Bauman served as defense counsel, prosecutor and special counsel with the Naval Investigative Service, trying over 30 jury and bench trials at special and general courts martial.

Bauman served in private sector law with the firm Bressler, Amery & Ross, including as a partner for 10 years, where he specialized in complex civil and commercial litigation as well as criminal law. In that capacity, Judge Bauman appeared before the U.S District Court of New Jersey, New York and New Jersey State Courts and various administrative agencies. In addition, Judge Bauman was an active member of a variety of organizations in the law and victim advocacy communities, including: the New Jersey Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee; the Asian-Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey; the New Jersey Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project; and as a member of the NJ State Bar Association’s Franchise Law Committee and Special Committee on Military Law and Veterans Affairs

Bauman is a Magna cum laude graduate of Columbia University and received his law degree from Boston College.