Barnett E. Hoffman, Attorney

Barnett E. Hoffman recently retired as the Presiding Judge of the criminaldivision in Middlesex County. At the time of his retirement, he was the longestsitting criminal division judge in the State of New Jersey. He has presided overan excess of three hundred and twenty five criminal cases. Included were thetrial of many notorious criminal trials. Judge Hoffman presided over elevencapital cases-more than any other judge in the state. He has tried in excess offifty first degree homicide cases. During his tenure on the bench, he became anexpert in the area of homicides and sexual assault cases. For several years, hetaught the trial sexual assault crimes to the other Superior Court Judges at thestatewide Judicial College. He has also taught at the National Judicial Collegeas well as the Vermont and the Florida Judicial Colleges. He is present on theFaculty of Rutgers University and teaches "Sex, Crime and Justice."

During his last two years on the bench, Judge Hoffman was the driving forceof the establishment of an in-patient drug program at the county jail. It wasthe first judicially run program of its kind. The program was very selective andhas had excellent results. Because of his involvement in this area, JudgeHoffman has become very knowledgeable of the various types of drug programs availableto treat this disease.

Judge Hoffman was also known for his innovative sentencing plans oftenencompassing alternatives to incarceration.

Judge Hoffman is a graduate of Rutgers College '62 and Rutgers School of Lawin Newark '65. He is a former President of the Rutgers Alumni Association and aformer member of the Rutgers University Board of Trustees. He has received the"Loyal Son of Rutgers" award. He is presently a regular member of theFaculty of the College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University.

Judge Hoffman's practice focuses on mediation and arbitration of commercialand matrimonial matters. He also concentrates on consultation of all criminalmatters including case review, plea agreements, sentencing and sentencingalternatives.

He is a United States Army veteran having achieved the rank of Captain.

Judge Hoffman lives in Highland Park with his wife Diane.

They are the parents of three adult children.

• State v. Vickery 1994

• State v. Freeman 1985

• State v. Chew 1994