Attorney Profiles

Hon. Barnett E. Hoffman 
New Brunswick, New Jersey

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Areas of Practice:

Mediation and Arbitration

Commercial

Matrimonial Matters

Criminal Matters

Case Review

Pleas Agreements

Sentencing and Sentencing Alternatives

Bar Admissions:

New Jersey, 1965

Education:

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law - Newark, Newark, New Jersey, 1965
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence

Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1962
B.A., Bachelor of Arts
Major:  American Civilization

Representative Cases:

State v. Chew, 651 A.2d 124 (N.J.Super.L. 1994)

State v. Vickery, 646 A.2d 1159 (N.J.Super.L. 1994)

State v. Freeman, 496 A.2d 1140 (N.J.Super.L. 1985)

Classes/Seminars Taught:

New Jersey Judicial College, New Jersey Administrative Office of Courts, 1985 - 1995

Vermont Judicial College, Vermont Supreme Court, 1995

Taught the Trial of Sexual Assault Crimes to Other Superior Court Judges, Statewide Judicial College

Teacher, National Judicial College

Teacher, Vermont Judicial College

Teacher, Florida Judicial College

Faculty, Teaches "Sex, Crime and Justice," Rutgers University

Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University

Honors and Awards:

"Loyal Son of Rutgers" Award

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Rutgers Alumni Association

Former President

Rutgers University

Former Member, Board of Trustees

Past Employment Positions:

Middlesex County, First Assistant County Prosecutor, 1978 - 1981

Hoffman & Cerminaro, Highland Park, New Jersey, 1973 - 1978

Criminal Division in Middlesex County, Superior Court Judge, 1981 - 2002

United States Army, Captain

Fraternities/Sororities:

Phi Epsilon Pi