NJ Bar Diversity Quotas Survive Discrimination Claims (1)

The New Jersey State Bar Association can continue reserving leadership positions for members of “disadvantaged groups” because its quotas don’t violate state discrimination laws, an appeals court ruled Friday.

Setting aside a number of at-large seats on the bar’s board, nominating committee, and appointments committee for lawyers from demographic groups traditionally underrepresented in leadership positions in the association doesn’t violate the expansive New Jersey Law Against Discrimination protections, the Superior Court Appellate Division ruled.

Palestinian Muslim American lawyer Rajeh A. Saadeh claimed that many of the 13 at-large seats wouldn’t be available to him because they’re reserved for other ...