The following are the remarks delivered by NJAJ 2026–2027 President Richard J. Albuquerque, Esq., during the Installation Dinner on June 25, 2026:

Good evening everyone.

It is truly an honor to stand before you tonight as President of the New Jersey Association for Justice.

I want to begin by thanking the leaders who came before me — the people who built this organization, defended it, and strengthened it. Their work gave all of us a voice, a mission, and a community. I also want to thank my family, my friends, my colleagues, and everyone here tonight for your support and trust.

I am overjoyed to have my 87-year-old father here to celebrate along with my sister, Isabel who has always been a great guide and support in my life.

I am happy to have my son Spencer, who flew in from California, and my daughter Brooke, who came from Ohio, to share this night with me.  You are both my pride and joy, and I am very happy you were able to be here with us.

Thank you to Kelli for your love and support.  I could not have a better companion as we go through this journey of life.  You make me a better person by your compassion to help other people.  I hope to take those lessons with me as I handle this presidency.

I want to thank my law partners and the lawyers from my firm.  There is no way I could have started down this path without their unwavering support.  Thank you for the sacrifices you have made these past 8 years to allow me to pursue this dream of leading this incredible organization.

Thank you, Pat, for that introduction.   It’s my honor to work with you on a daily basis.  Your kind words are greatly appreciated.

Thank you to Corny and the NJAJ staff.  I cannot imagine a better-run organization anywhere.  Thank you in advance for your patience and guidance as we move forward over the next 12 months.

Thank you to my closest friend of 25 years, Tommy Zanaras.  Your strength and courage over the last year and for many, many, many more years to come is an inspiration. 

Thank you to all the sponsors of this event.  Your participation financially and by being here is greatly appreciated.   Without you, we could not do all the important work for our clients.

Thank you, Judge Podolnick, for swearing me in.  You have a been a close friend for many years, and I appreciate you being here.

Thank you to the Javerbaum Wurgraft and Feldman Sheppard firms for your friendship and support.  Eric, David, Scott, John, it’s my great pleasure to call you my colleagues, but more importantly, my friends.

I have to give a special thanks to Eric Kahn.  There is absolutely no way I am standing here tonight but for Eric’s belief in me and his guidance and support in taking that first step on the leadership ladder.  Thank you.

Thank you to Jon Lomurro and Adam Lederman, who have been incredibly generous with their time and advice this past year as President-Elect. 

NJAJ is more than an organization of lawyers. We are advocates for accountability. We are protectors of the civil justice system. And most importantly, we are the voice for people who otherwise would not have one.

Every day, our members represent individuals during the hardest moments of their lives — people who are injured, families who are grieving, workers who have been mistreated, consumers who have been taken advantage of, and citizens who simply want fairness and justice. We do not represent the powerful. We represent the people.

And what we do matters.

Because when a corporation chooses profits over safety, trial lawyers force change.

When an insurance company refuses to do the right thing, trial lawyers level the playing field.

When someone suffers a catastrophic loss and feels powerless, trial lawyers give them a voice in a courtroom where every person stands equal under the law.

That mission has never been more important than it is today.

The civil justice system is constantly under attack. There are always efforts to limit access to the courts, restrict the rights of injured people, and weaken accountability. NJAJ will continue to stand firmly against those efforts. We will protect the Seventh Amendment, defend the right to trial by jury, and ensure that ordinary people can still obtain justice in this state.

But our goals extend beyond the courtroom.

We must continue to mentor young lawyers, strengthen professionalism, promote diversity within our organization, and build the next generation of advocates who will carry this mission forward long after all of us are gone.

We must remain united. Plaintiff lawyers come from different backgrounds, different counties, and different practices, but we all share the same purpose: fighting for fairness and protecting people who need help.

As President, I promise to work tirelessly for this organization and for its members. I want NJAJ to continue growing stronger, louder, and more influential throughout New Jersey.

Because at the end of the day, this work is about more than verdicts and settlements.

It is about dignity.

It is about accountability.

And it is about making sure justice is available to everyone — not just those who can afford it.

Thank you for this incredible honor. I look forward to serving all of you this year.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.