Baruch S. Seidman Papers

Baruch S. Seidman, late Judge of the Appellate Division, Superior Court of New Jersey, was born on August 4, 1911, Chicago, Illinois. In 1927, he graduated from Ramsey High School, Ramsey, New Jersey, and at the age of 16 he entered the freshman class at Rutgers University on a four-year State Board of Regents' Scholarship. In 1931, Judge Seidman received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, and in 1932 a Masters of Arts Degree, both from Rutgers University. Judge Seidman continued his education at New York University, receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1935. He was admitted to practice law by the New Jersey State Bar in 1936. He entered the United States Army after having served in the ROTC at Rutgers University, and served in World War II, receiving six medals including the Bronze Star. In 1939 he married Pearl O. Wedeen of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

Judge Seidman retired from the United States Army in 1971 with the rank of Colonel in the Judge Advocate General's Corp. In 1999, Governor Whitman presented him with the Distinguished Service Medal, the State of New Jersey's highest military award for service during World War II.

In 1946, Judge Seidman began the practice of law in South River in association with late George L. Burton Sr., and was a senior member of the firm Burton, Seidman and Burton. He remained partner in the firm until his 1966 appointment to the bench. Judge Seidman was nominated by Governor Hughes to the Middlesex County Court (later merged into Superior Court of New Jersey). Judge Seidman sat a total of twenty-seven years on the bench, including a nine year period on the Appellate Division (1973-81 ), fifteen years as an active Judge and twelve years on recall status.

Judge Seidman founded the Civil Appeals Settlement Program, and served as a judge of the program. He served as Chair of the Committee on Opinions. He also served as Chair and leader of the Committee to Study Extrajudicial Activities, was the primary author of the Code governing Extrajudicial Activities, as well as the Chair of the Advisory Committee to implement the newly revised Code. Judge Seidman was an active supporter of Rutgers University, and donated generously to several scholarship funds, primarily the Jewish Studies program.

Judge Seidman died on August 13, 2002.