Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz re-administered Pawar’s judicial oath before a crowd that included New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Anne Patterson, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger, Morris County and Morristown officials, state Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-31st Dist.), and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.
Judges must be “responsible, dedicated and humble…I know you embrace these concepts to serve the public…You will be an outstanding judge,” Minkowitz told Pawar, the first Indian American jurist in the Morris-Sussex Vicinage.
Slideshow photos by Kevin Coughlin. Click/hover on images for captions:
While Pawar’s heritage is something to celebrate, it’s not the reason for his appointment, asserted state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco (R-25th Dist.).
“Today we are here because of your character, your leadership, your demeanor, and your intellect. And it is those traits, along with your heritage, that will continue to serve you, and those that appear before you, well as a judge,” he said.
The Republican Bucco could have invoked senatorial courtesy to block the nomination of Pawar, a Democrat, by Gov. Phil Murphy. But the senator said Pawar impressed him over the years with his smarts, calmness and compassion.
“Whether it was issues in and around Morristown, or in the political arena, Vij always exhibited the right demeanor. Most importantly, Vij knew when we had to be serious, and when we could have some fun. Not everyone has that ability. But you do, and that’s why you sailed through the process,” Bucco said.
‘HIS FINGERPRINTS ARE ALL OVER THIS TOWN’
Mayor Tim Dougherty recounted meeting Pawar, a “skinny, 140-pound” congressional candidate, in 2002.
Dougherty, a councilman at the time, was impressed that Pawar was campaigning in the rain.
“When I tell you this 27-year-old changed my life, he did,” the mayor said.
Pawar, now 46, advised Dougherty through four mayoral campaigns, and was named town attorney in 2010.
They were so tight, Dougherty said, that when Pawar went on vacation, he entrusted his pet goldfish, Bombay, to his care.
When Dougherty paused during Thursday’s speech, searching for a tissue to daub his eyes, Pawar produced a box of Kleenex from the bench.
“We will be forever bonded together,” Dougherty concluded. “His fingerprints are all over this town. Do not kid yourself. His advice was daily, and the moves I made were a result of what he advised me to do. And through that we’ve been successful in this town.”
Pawar was elected to the Morris School District board of education, and had a private law practice in town. He is a graduate of Virginia Wesleyan College and the Rutgers-Camden Law School.
For the past year, he has served in the Family Division of Superior Court, in the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown. On Thursday he heard a proclamation from the governor, and received a gavel from the Morris County Bar Association.
Noting that his judicial staff gave him an hourglass inscribed “Chop, chop!,” Pawar peered up at the balcony of the 1827 courtroom and jokingly barked at his law clerk to get back to work.
“Finish the motions!” Pawar ordered, to laughter.
He also expressed relief that now he’s merely a constituent of Mayor Dougherty.
“And I can complain, complain, complain, and there’s nothing he can do about it! He can’t turn to me and say, ‘Well, you’re the town attorney. Fix it, find a way to get it done.’”
‘FOLLOW YOUR DREAM’
On a serious note, Pawar quoted John Adams on essential qualities for judges, words that ring truer than ever, he said, as the nation looks to the courts “as a source of truth and justice.”
He also asked for a round of applause for his mother, present in the courtroom, and his late father, for their courage in immigrating to the United States from India when he was 13.
“And we landed in a very diverse community called Basking Ridge,” Pawar said, to more laughter. “I believe I was the only brown kid in middle school.”
Pawar thanked his wife Jennifer for her patience and support, and told their children, Gabriel and Stella:
“Follow your dream. Live life. Be kind. Work hard. You can do anything and become anything. And remember, always strive to do the right thing.”
