Our Team

The Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center is led by Pashman Stein Walder Hayden Partner CJ Griffin, who serves as Director of the Center.

The commitment to public interest and pro bono matters is an integral part of the culture at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden.  Our attorneys are encouraged to work on matters through the Stein Public Interest Center, performing more than 12,000 hours of pro bono legal work in 2021-2022.  

Justice Gary S. Stein (Ret.), for whom the Center is named, and Judge Stuart Peim (Ret.), focus a significant amount of their time on matters for the Stein Public Interest Center. Together with retired Appellate Division Presiding Judge Ellen L. Koblitz, they provide invaluable guidance and perspective to the Stein Public Interest Center.

In fall 2023, the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Fellow was established. The Fellowship offers attorneys a unique opportunity to work on public interest impact litigation and appellate advocacy within a law firm setting. Further information about the Fellowship program is located in About the Center.

In addition to representing clients in important public interest and pro bono cases, we partner with local, regional, and national organizations to promote and advance justice, including representing such organizations as pro bono amicus curiae counsel.  Our partner organizations include the American Civil Liberties Union – New Jersey, the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers – New Jersey, Partners for Women and Justice, the Latino Action Network, Libertarians for Transparent Government and many more.