Patricia Garity Smits

Background

Garity Smits, Patricia was born in Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States.

Education

University of Wisconsin-Madison (Bachelor of Science, 1967). Northern Illinois University (Master of Science, 1969). Rutgers University (Juris Doctor, 1978).

Career

Admitted to the bar, 1978, New Jersey and United States. District Court, District of New Jersey. 1980, Florida; 1983, United States.

Supreme Court.

Phi Delta Phi. Law Clerk to the Honorable Donald G. Collester, Junior, 1978-1979. Master, American Inns of Court (Family Law Inn, 1993—).

Member: New Jersey Supreme Court Family Part Practice Committee, 1984—. New Jersey Supreme Court Complementary Dispute Resolution Committee, 1990—. Member, District X Ethics Committee, 1988-1992.

Editorial Board, New Jersey Family Lawyer, 1992—. Certified Child Custody and Abuse Attorney, National Center for Protective Parents, 1995. Author: "Finance Charges," Hot Tips from the Experts, American Bar Association Section of Family Law, 1988.

"Family Law in New Jersey," Volume 1, No. 5, New York Domestic Relations Reporter 65, April, 1989. "Know Your Judge," Volume 12, No.

4, Family Law Advocate, Spring, 1990. New Jersey Update, New York Domestic Relations Reporter, 1988-1989. "Overview of Equitable Distribution: Where Are We Now? Where Do We Go From Here?", New Jersey Family Lawyer, 1995.

Lecturer: "New Jersey Family Law," Judicial College, 1993. "Employee Benefits," What is on the Bargaining Table in a Divorce?" Annual American Bar Association Meeting, New Orleans, 1994. "1995 Family Law," Symposium, New Jersey ICLE.

Various topics at the American Bar Association Section of Family Law, Fall, Spring and Annual Meetings, 1989-1995. Chairperson, Morris County Matrimonial Early Settlement Program, 1984-1990. Recipient: American Bar Association Section of Family Law Chair's Cup 1992.

Pro Bono Award, Morris County Legal Aid Society. Member: Morris County (Member, Family Law Executive Committee, 1981—. Chair, 1984-1987), New Jersey State (Member: Family Law Section, 1978.

Executive Committee, 1991—. Committee on Alcoholism, 1978-1988. ICLE, Curriculum Committee, 1989—) and American (Member, Section of Family Law, 1978—.

Elected Council Member, Section of Family Law, 1991-1993, 1994-1997. Family Law Council, 1991—. Co-Chair and Chair, Law in the Fifty States Committee, 1985-1993.

Member: Nominating Committee, 1986, 1988. Member: Continuing Legal Education Committee, 1988—. Law Practice Management Committee, 1992—.

Vice-Chair, 1992-1994, Chair, 1994—) Bar Associations. The Florida Bar (Member, Family Law Section). New Jersey Women Lawyer's Association.

New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association.

Works

• Other Work

  • Author: "Finance Charges," Hot Tips from the Experts, American Bar Association Section of Family Law, 1988. "Family Law in New Jersey," Volume 1, No. 5, New York Domestic Relations Reporter 65, April, 1989.
    
    "Know Your Judge," Volume 12, No. 4, Family Law Advocate, Spring, 1990. New Jersey Update, New York Domestic Relations Reporter, 1988-1989.
    
    "Overview of Equitable Distribution: Where Are We Now? Where Do We Go From Here?", New Jersey Family Lawyer, 1995.

Membership

Member: New Jersey Supreme Court Family Part Practice Committee, 1984—. New Jersey Supreme Court Complementary Dispute Resolution Committee, 1990—. Member, District X Ethics Committee, 1988-1992.

Editorial Board, New Jersey Family Lawyer, 1992—. Certified Child Custody and Abuse Attorney, National Center for Protective Parents, 1995.