Mary F. Thurber

The Honorable Mary F. Thurber, J.S.C. (Ret.) is special counsel in the Alternative Dispute Resolution practice at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. She focuses her practice on resolution of Civil and Chancery disputes. 

Judge Thurber joined the firm in 2024, upon retirement from her fifteen-year career on the state trial court bench.  She served in the Law Division, Civil Part in Bergen County for nine years, settling or trying hundreds of cases. During her tenure in the Law Division, she served as the designated judge for Complex Business Litigation (Commercial and Construction), Environmental, and False Claims Act matters and as the designated back-up/conflict judge for Multicounty Litigation matters. She also managed and tried (or settled) both probate and general equity cases from the Chancery Division.

Prior to serving in the Law Division, Judge Thurber served in the Family Part, first in Hudson County and then in Bergen County, from 2009 until 2015, when she began her assignment in the Law Division. In the Family Part, Judge Thurber handled divorce pre- and post-judgment matters as well as domestic violence and child abuse and neglect cases. Judge Thurber served on the Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Evidence for six years while on the bench.

Judge Thurber is widely recognized for her legal acumen, thoroughness, and professional judicial demeanor. In serving as a mediator and arbitrator, she draws upon her extensive experience on the bench trying, and guiding the settlement of, complex litigation matters, including multi-county cases, multi-party cases, complex construction matters, complex insurance matters, professional malpractice and employment matters, family disputes, and other high stakes matters, as well as her experience managing the court’s environmental docket. 

As part of the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution practice group, Judge Thurber joins Pashman Stein’s esteemed retired judges, practicing arbitrators, and mediators who collectively bring their unique perspectives and judicial experiences to bear on complex client matters, including high-stakes litigation.

Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Thurber was engaged in the private practice of law for almost 25 years in a varied, general practice, including commercial, contract, construction, employment, trust and estate, and family litigation.  During her years as a practicing attorney, Judge Thurber was active in state and local bar associations, serving as a lawyer member of the Court’s Civil Practice Committee for approximately sixteen years while in private practice, a Trustee of the Bergen County Bar Association, and as Chair of the Construction Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, as well as founding Editor of the Section’s newsletter. She is a former member and Past Chair of the District IIA Supreme Court Ethics Committee.  Judge Thurber served as a New Jersey Bar Exam grader and then as a Bar Examiner for many years. She was also active in pro bono legal work as well as community service, serving for many years as a Trustee of her local public library and working with several non-profit entities.

Judge Thurber has been a frequent lecturer on myriad legal education topics for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and various bar associations and professional organizations.

Judge Thurber received her undergraduate degree from Siena College and her J.D. from Rutgers Law School-Newark, where she was honored as the Saul Tischler Scholar each year.  She clerked for the Honorable Robert L. Clifford, New Jersey Supreme Court.

Honors & Recognitions

• Saul Tischler Scholar, Rutgers School of Law, 1982-1985

Community & Professional

• Former member, chair, and vice-chair District IIA Ethics Committee (4 years)
• Former trustee, Bergen County Bar Association (9 years), participant on multiple committees (including judicial selection), and General Council delegate to State Bar (30+ years member)
• New Jersey State Bar – Founding Editor of newsletter for Construction and Public Contract Law Committee, instrumental in transition of that group from Committee to Section status, co-chaired Section
• Former member, New Jersey Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee (long-term attorney member)
• Former member, New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Evidence Rules (2017 to 2022)
• Volunteered as co-leader and leader for Explorer Post for high-school students interested in careers in law, working with multiple other Bergen County attorneys
• Volunteered as lawyer for victims of domestic violence, through Alternatives to Domestic Violence (ADV)
• Former trustee and officer of local library Board of Trustees