Thomas S. Higgins, Plaintiffs-Respondents v. the Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics of the Supreme…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey upheld Advisory Committee Opinion No. 291, finding it a valid and binding ethical restriction that prevents an attorney who is a county freeholder from representing a criminal defendant indicted in that county. The Court affirmed the trial court's denial of the plaintiffs' motion to dismiss and clarified that the opinion's scope is limited to the specific question presented.