April 2023
Founding Attorney Rajeh A. Saadeh featured in Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences Honors Alumni Spotlight
Rajeh is a proud Rutgers Honors Alum and was featured in the April 2023 spotlight. Attorney Saadeh answered questions like “What attracted you to Rutgers University and the Honors/Scholars Program?” and “How has your Rutgers and Honors education benefited you in your post-Rutgers life?”
Read the full spotlight at https://sashonors.rutgers.edu/alumni/honors-alumni-spotlight
November 2022
PRESS RELEASE
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ, November 10, 2022 – The New Jersey State Bar Association is committing unlawful discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and disability, according to a ruling by the Hon. Joseph L. Rea, a judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey. The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C., represents the plaintiff, the named victim of such discrimination. A copy of the judge’s order and opinion are found here.
The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C., filed the discrimination lawsuit against the NJSBA in Middlesex County. Judge Rea ruled the plaintiff was subjected to discrimination and civil rights violations based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and disability in his eligibility for positions in the NJSBA’s governing body, Nominating Committee, and Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee. The judge’s ruling indicates the plaintiff was excluded from certain seats and positions due to his identity while others were included for being members of certain races, genders, sexual orientations, and other identifying categories.
The plaintiff is represented by Lindsay A. McKillop of The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C.
Judge Rea ruled the NJSBA precludes the plaintiff from obtaining certain positions in its governing body because of his identity while others are eligible for said seats because of their colors, races, genders, and other characteristics. The judge’s opinion also indicates that the plaintiff is eligible for other positions in the NJSBA’s governing body, Nominating Committee, and Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee only if he is also a member of certain diversity bar associations, while other people with certain identities are eligible for such positions without having to be members of any other bar association.
“As Judge Rea ruled, the NJSBA unlawfully discriminated against the plaintiff by preventing him from obtaining important positions because of his identity, no matter his qualifications. That is not inclusion or diversity; it’s obvious exclusion, vile bigotry, and sinister bias. Even though it took nearly 13 months to reach this result, we are pleased with the decision and will hold the NJSBA accountable so it never discriminates again,” said Ms. McKillop.
The NJSBA’s governing body is called the Board of Trustees. The Nominating Committee effectively selects almost all members of the Board of Trustees, including the NJSBA president, and one of the powers of the NJSBA president is to select many members of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee, which vets state judicial and prosecutorial nominees and opines to the Governor whether they are qualified for such positions.
The plaintiff endured humiliation, emotional distress, mental anguish, pain, and suffering due to the discrimination he faced, the complaint alleges. And, considering all circumstances according to the complaint, including the public interest and impact the NJSBA has on the appointment of state prosecutors, judges, and Supreme Court justices, the lawsuit states that the NJSBA’s actions are “particularly egregious and outrageous.” A jury will determine the amount of damages the plaintiff will be awarded.
“In standing up to the NJSBA, an organization of mostly lawyers, to correct its system of unlawful discrimination and civil rights violations, the plaintiff has suffered personal and professional ostracization.” said Ms. McKillop. “For the sake of principles, including true diversity, inclusion, equality, fairness, and the public’s interest and confidence in the justice system, the plaintiff put his career, livelihood, and professional relationships at risk in filing and continuing with this suit. We will keep an eye on the NJSBA to determine whether and to what extent it complies with Judge Rea’s order and stops discriminating.”
The judge ruled the NJSBA violated the Law Against Discrimination and ordered it to stop doing so, including by removing any discriminatory criteria used to fill any positions. The lawsuit also seeks unspecified monetary damages, punitive damages, and an award of attorney fees and other legal costs and expenses.
Mercy-USA Sponsorship
The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C. is proud to sponsor the construction of a well in the Labad village in the Hobyo region of Somalia!
The well construction is part of the safe water project. The well is a protected water source and has resulted in the following:
- Improved access to safe and adequate water that meets the distinct needs of people in emergency-affected communities.
- Available water has increased from 5 liters per person per day to 20 liters. The well now benefits at least 5,500 households.
- Community members now walk less than 1 kilometer to their water source, relieving people, usually women and girls, of the extreme difficulty of fetching water.
- The construction process created temporary employment for youths, enabling them to make money and gain construction experience.
- Through training, this safe water supply project has also resulted in increased awareness on preventing water contamination, good water treatment, storage practices, and hygiene practices.
To support Mercy-USA and see the wonderful work the organization is doing, visit https://mercyusa.org/report/somalia-clean-water/ and https://www.facebook.com/MercyUSA
October 2022
The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C. is included in the 2023 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” for New Jersey family law firms. Read more about the Best Law Firms in New Jersey award on our latest post.
March 2022
Law firm wins paternity and child support appeal, results in published decision in New Jersey
The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C., recently won an appeal reversing a lower court ruling that New Jersey has personal jurisdiction to impose child support and establish paternity over an alleged father.
November 2021
Attorney Rajeh A. Saadeh Quoted in Online Media Articles
Lawyers at The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C., provide diligent representation and quality legal services in many areas of law, including divorce and family law as well as real estate purchases and sales. Our attorneys take great pride and extra care in guiding people and businesses through consequential, personal, and life-changing matters.
New Jersey Attorney Rajeh A. Saadeh often shares his legal knowledge, perspective, and expertise through digital outlets and traditional media to inform and educate readers. Below are links to the latest legal quotes and contributions from Rajeh.
- https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/relationships/how-to-financially-weather-a-divorce-in-midlife-or-later/
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/how-to-financially-weather-a-divorce-in-midlife-or-later/ar-AAM7GDq
October 15, 2021
Discrimination Suit Filed Against The New Jersey State Bar Association
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ, October 15, 2021 – The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C., filed a discrimination lawsuit today against the New Jersey State Bar Association in the Superior Court of New Jersey in Middlesex County. A copy of the complaint is found here.
The action alleges the plaintiff was subjected to discrimination and civil rights violations based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and disability in his eligibility for positions in the NJSBA’s governing body, Nominating Committee, and Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee. In support of these allegations, the plaintiff provided writings and communications from the NJSBA showing that he is excluded from certain seats and positions due to his identity while others are included for being members of certain races, genders, sexual orientations, and other identifying categories.
According to the complaint, these discriminatory policies have been in place since at least 2015. The complaint also indicates that individuals, including NJSBA trustees, managers, and employees, are also liable for their roles in establishing, promoting, and furthering the discrimination and civil rights violations.
The plaintiff is represented by Lindsay A. McKillop of The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C.
According to the complaint, the NJSBA precludes the plaintiff from obtaining certain positions in its governing body because of his identity while others are eligible for said seats because of their colors, races, genders, and other characteristics. The complaint also explains that plaintiff is eligible for other positions in the NJSBA’s governing body, Nominating Committee, and Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee only if he is also a member of certain diversity bar associations, while other people with certain identities are eligible for such positions without having to be members of any other bar association.
“The NJSBA claims that it supports diversity and inclusion. But in reality, based on its own policies, decisions, and documents, it prohibits the plaintiff from obtaining important positions because of his identity, no matter his qualifications. That is not inclusion; it’s exclusion, and it’s illegal,” said Ms. McKillop.
The NJSBA’s governing body is called the Board of Trustees, according to the complaint. The Nominating Committee effectively selects almost all members of the Board of Trustees, including the NJSBA president, and one of the powers of the NJSBA president is to select many members of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee, which vets state judicial and prosecutorial nominees and opines to the Governor whether they are qualified for such positions.
The plaintiff endured humiliation, emotional distress, mental anguish, pain, and suffering due to the discrimination he faced, the complaint alleges. And, considering all circumstances according to the complaint, including the public interest and impact the NJSBA has on the appointment of state prosecutors, judges, and Supreme Court justices, the complaint states that the NJSBA’s actions are “particularly egregious and outrageous.”
“We admire the plaintiff for his courage in standing up to the NJSBA, an 18,000-plus member organization of mostly lawyers, for its system of unlawful discrimination and civil rights violations,” said Ms. McKillop. “He put his career, livelihood, and professional relationships at risk for the sake of equality, fairness, and the public’s interest and confidence in the justice system. We look forward to a jury’s verdict.”
The action alleges the NJSBA violated the Law Against Discrimination. In addition to a declaration that the NJSBA violated said law, the lawsuit seeks to stop the NJSBA from continuing to do so, including by vacating any positions filled under discriminatory criteria and compelling the NJSBA to make its policies lawful, in addition to unspecified monetary damages, punitive damages, and an award of attorney fees and other legal costs and expenses.
About The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C.
The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C., is a diverse team of lawyers with a main office in Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey, and represents clients in divorce and family matters, civil and commercial litigation, real estate and business transactions, criminal defense, municipal court matters, and appeals. Call 908-864-7884 to schedule a consultation. You can also fill out the online form for the firm to contact you soon.
September 2021
Law Student Fellowship Sponsor at Rutgers Law School
The Law Office of Rajeh A. Saadeh, L.L.C. is proud to announce that we are sponsoring law student fellows for the Center for Security, Race and Rights at Rutgers Law School in Newark in 2021.
“The law student fellowships allow aspiring lawyers to further their legal studies while conducting research and projects. The firm supports the mission of the Center of Security, Race and Rights at Rutgers Law School and its fellows in bringing to the forefront what has been purposefully overlooked and suppressed for decades in the mainstream, including the media, government and academia, as to the lack of civil rights and justice afforded to Arabs, South Asians, and Muslims, both domestically and abroad,” attorney Rajeh A. Saadeh said.
“The firm is proud to support up and coming lawyers and New Jersey’s only public law school in their efforts to bring fairness and accuracy to the longstanding one-sided and deceptive narrative surrounding race, security and civil and human rights.”
Learn more about the law student fellowship and the Center of Security, Race, and Rights at Rutgers Law School and how they are making a difference in the community.
