Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. Named New Jersey Law Journal’s Law Firm of the Year 2023*

CJ Griffin, Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. Photo

CJ Griffin

Partner & Director of the Stein Public Interest Center
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CJ Griffin is the director of the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden (Stein Public Interest Center). Established in 2019, the Stein Public Interest Center is dedicated to a broad range of public interest impact litigation and appellate advocacy that advances social, racial, and economic justice; protects civil liberties and constitutional rights; and promotes an open and transparent government. In 2021, CJ was profiled by Super Lawyers in an article titled "The Inspired CJG - How the RBG documentary moved CJ Griffin to build a first-of-its-kind public-interest center."

CJ Griffin’s legal practice focuses on media law, appellate advocacy, employment, criminal defense and cannabis law.

CJ has extensive experience representing media companies, non profit organizations and citizens in Open Public Records Act (OPRA) litigations. Several of CJ’s cases have resulted in landmark decisions from the Supreme Court and Appellate Division, including Rivera v. Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Libertarians for Trans. Gov’t v. Cumberland County, North Jersey Media Group Inc. v. Township of Lyndhurst; Scheeler v. Atlantic County Joint Municipal Insurance Fund; and Wronko v. New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. CJ publishes the Firm’s “New Jersey OPRA Blog” to keep the public informed about updates in the law and routinely hosts OPRA trainings for community organizations and news-rooms.

CJ has built a considerable appellate practice. CJ has argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court nearly 20 times and has worked on nearly 60 cases that have become published opinions. This includes regular appearances before the appellate courts in an amicus curiae capacity on a variety of legal issues. CJ also serves on the Amicus Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. In 2018, the New Jersey Law Journal awarded the Firm a Litigation Department of the Year Award for its appellate work, primarily in the OPRA field. In 2022, New Jersey Monitor published an article titled "In praise of CJ Griffin, who fights to shine a spotlight on N.J. government" that highlights CJ's OPRA and police transparency work."  

CJ is proud of the results achieved for clients, some of which are noted here and under the “Important Cases” section of this biography.  Of course, each legal matter is unique on many levels, and past successes are not a guarantee of results in any other pending or future matters.

The New Jersey Legal Awards are published by the New Jersey Law Journal. A description of the selection methodology can be found at Methodology: New Jersey Legal Awards (NJLA).

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Clerkships

  • Judicial Law Clerk to Ariel A. Rodriguez, P.J.A.D. (2009-2010)

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

B.S., SUNY-Empire State College, 2005

J.D., Rutgers University School of Law, 2009

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