Justin Walder

Criminal Defense

Investigations - Governmental & Internal

Litigation

Attorney Ethics & Professional Misconduct

Crisis Management

Justin P. Walder is the 2018 recipient of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation Medal of Honor. This highest award is in recognition of his professional excellence as demonstrated by accomplishments in the law and contributions to the improvement of the justice system for the betterment of the legal profession.

He has amassed a wealth of legal knowledge from a variety of perspectives and continues to rack up legal accolades and accomplishments. Justin particularly enjoys litigating cases involving novel or complex questions of law, and recently represented a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court in a successful challenge as to the constitutionality of increases of pension and health care costs for judges and justices of New Jersey. He has been a leading advocate for an independent judiciary.

Justin has served as New Jersey state deputy attorney general and as assistant Essex County prosecutor in charge of business fraud and economic crimes, and, nearly 30 years ago, he co-founded the firm of Walder Hayden. In addition to his active litigation practice, Justin has served as designated special counsel to the New Jersey Supreme Court and as counsel to the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts. He passes his legal knowledge on to others through service as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University School of Law and as an instructor for the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He has been a master and lecturer for the New Jersey Inns of Court, a faculty member of the New Jersey Judicial College, and an associate editor of the New Jersey Law Journal.

Justin believes strongly in service to the legal community. He has served in a number of capacities, including, among others, as a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Commission on Rules of Professional Conduct; as a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Board on Trial Attorney Certification; and as a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Fee Arbitration.

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Co-Chair, New Jersey Fellows of the American Bar Foundation

American Board of Trial Advocates

New Jersey State Bar Association (Board of Trustees 2013, Moderator, CLE Seminar on “How to Handle High Profile Cases and the Media”)

Essex County Bar Association

American Bar Association

Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Member, State Committee)

Trial Attorneys of New Jersey (Member, Board of Governors)

Past President, New Jersey Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys