Lawyers to be honored tomorrow at

New Jersey Professionalism in the Law ceremony

NEW BRUNSWICK -- A South Jersey criminal defense lawyer with a reputation as a zealous advocate who maintains the highest levels of civility and integrity tomorrow will receive the state’s top professionalism award.

Carl D. Poplar will receive the 2011 Daniel J. O’Hern Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. The award is presented annually to a senior member of the bar in recognition of commitment to the highest ideals of the profession, career achievement, and service to the bar and community.

The award will be presented at the Professionalism Awards Luncheon, to be held Tues., Oct. 4 at Pines Manor in Edison.

Poplar is “an outstanding lawyer and true professional who has for decades fought zealously for his clients while observing the highest professional standards,’’ said Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg, chair of the New Jersey commission.

He is forceful in expressing subjects of human rights and civil rights, but he always conducts himself in a professional manner,’’ said former Governor James Florio, a law school classmate who remains a friend. “He’s just a genuinely likeable person.’’

For his part, Poplar was said he was humbled to receive the recognition from his peers and is proud of his profession.

“You need a vigorous defense bar to protect the rights of the innocent and the guilty,’’ Poplar said. “There are lots of wrongful prosecutions. You have to have a system that makes the government meet its burden of proof.’’

In addition to Poplar, a host of other attorneys will be honored for their service at the event. County and specialty bar associations from around the state will also recognize lawyers who have made a difference in the profession.

2011 PROFESSIONAL LAWYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
 
Atlantic County Bar Association                                                
Jerry H. Steiner

Bergen County Bar Association                                                
Seymour Chase

Burlington County Bar Association                                    
Berge Tumaian

Camden County Bar Association                                                
Michael P. Madden

Cape May County Bar Association                                               
Lisa M. Radell

Cumberland County Bar Association                                    
Gerald J. Batt

Essex County Bar Association                                                
Irwin A. Horowitz

Gloucester County Bar Association                                    
Ernest L. Alvino Jr.

Hudson County Bar Association                                                
Michael J. Dermody

Hunterdon County Bar Association                                    
Richard M. Conley

Mercer County Bar Association                                                
Sahbra Smook Jacobs

Middlesex County Bar Association                                                
Jack Borrus

Monmouth Bar Association                                                            
Fredric M. Milstein

Morris County Bar Association                                                
Robert W. McAndrew

Ocean County Bar Association                                                
William P. Cunningham

Passaic County Bar Association                                                
Richard I. Miller

Salem County Bar Association                                                
John G. Hoffman

Somerset County Bar Association                                                
Diane K. Smith

Sussex County Bar Association                                                
Lorraine M. Augostini

Union County Bar Association                                                
Hon. John M. Boyle

Warren County Bar Association                                                
Elinor P. Mulligan

Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association                        
Wilard C. Shih

Association of Black Women Lawyers                                    
Hon. Frances K. Antonin

Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers                                    
William H. Buckman

Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey                        
Richard Coughlin

Garden State Bar Association                                                
Sharon Price-Cates

Hispanic Bar Association                                                            
Miguel A. Pozo

New Jersey State Bar Association                                                
Charles J. Uliano

New Jersey Women Lawyers Association                                    
Galit Kierkut

Trial Attorneys of New Jersey                                                
Louis J. DeVoto