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Blair R. Zwillman

Attorney Blair R. Zwillman

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Practice Areas:

  • Criminal Defense

Biography

Blair R. Zwillman has over 40 years of experience with the criminal justice system. After serving as a Law Clerk to Superior Court Judge Joseph M. Thuring in Hudson County, he became a Deputy Attorney General in the Division of Criminal Justice, a section of the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. There he prosecuted cases. In 1979, he left state service and began the private practice of criminal law, with his primary goal to assist and defend those charged with crime.

Mr. Zwillman is well regarded by his peers and is a frequent contributor to legal publications. He has successfully defended those charged with both white collar crimes and all other crimes. His practice includes federal court matters nationwide, New Jersey state matters, public agency cases and municipal case matters.

He has successfully handled all types of federal cases, including:

  • drug crimes
  • tax fraud and evasion
  • white collar crimes, such as fraud and embezzlement
  • criminal conspiracy
  • extortion
  • sexually related cases, such as possession of child pornography

In state court, he handles cases including, but not limited to:

  • murder, assault and other violent crimes
  • robbery, theft, fraud, bribery and forgery
  • drugs and weapons charges
  • possession of child pornography
  • expungement petitions for those seeking to remove prior convictions

He also handles licensing issues for doctors, dentists and other professionals before state licensing boards.

Education

  • New England Law, Boston, Massachusetts
    • J.D. - 1976
    • Honors: cum laude
  • Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania
    • B.A. - 1973

Bar Admission

  • New Jersey, 1976
  • New York, 1983
  • U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1976
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1982
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2010
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 2014
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 2014

Published Works

  • "The Requirement of Reasons for Parole Denial: A Hollow Right," co-author Barry S. Smith, 10 New England Law Review 455, 1975
  • "Variations on a Theme: Admissibility of Expert Evidence", 8 NJLJ 2239, 1999
  • "Repeal New Jersey’s Ill-Conceived Gun Law", 193 NJLJ 19, 2008
  • "Thwart Efforts to Dilute Judicial Independence", 197 NJLJ 419, 2009

Representative Cases

  • Jackson v. Fauver
  • State v. Allah
  • State v. Bellucci
  • State v. Bellucci, Supreme Court
  • State v. Carminati
  • State v. Cox
  • State v. King
  • State v. Metcalf
  • State v. Moller
  • State v. Ortiz
  • State v. Ronald Rogers
  • State v. Ronald Rogers, Supreme Court

Honors

  • Professional Lawyer of the Year Award by the NJ Commission on Professionalism in the Law, 2007
  • Included on the New Jersey Best Lawyers list, 2012 to present
  • Named to the Super Lawyers list since the inception of that organization
  • Elected as Fellow of the American Bar Association, 2015

Classes & Seminars

  • Lecturer, Institute for Continuing Legal Education
  • Lecturer, New Jersey Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Former Chair, District V-B Ethics Committee

References

  • Summit, Maplewood, New Jersey 07040

Past Positions

  • Superior Court Judge Joseph M. Thuring in Hudson County, Law Clerk, 1976 to 1977
  • New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Division of Criminal Justice, Deputy Attorney General, 1977 to 1979
  • Zwillman and Zwillman, Maplewood, NJ, Partner, 1980 to 2002
  • Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A., Shareholder

Professional Associations

  • New Jersey Supreme Court Standing Committee on Jury Selection, Former Member
  • Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, Former President and Trustee

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certified Criminal Trial Attorney, Supreme Court of New Jersey, Board on Trial Attorney Certification, 1983

Current Employment Position

  • Principal