In Memory

James Joseph (Jim) Higgins

James Joseph (Jim) Higgins

(21 May 1943 - 5 January 2006)

James J. Higgins of Morris Twp., an attorney in Florham Park, 62

A service for James J. Higgins, 62, of Morris Township will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Dangler Funeral Home, 600 Speedwell Ave., Morris Plains.

Mr. Higgins, who died Thursday in Utah, had been a lawyer in private practice in Florham Park from 1998 through 2005. Before that, he worked for the firm of Boyar, Higgins and Suozzo in Morristown from 1979 through 1997. Earlier, he was a judicial clerk to Judge Robert Muir Jr. in the Superior Court of New Jersey Chancery Division in Morris County from 1974 through 1975.

Mr. Higgins was admitted to the State Bar Association of New Jersey in 1974 and the State Bar Association of New York in 1980. He was admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the second and third circuits and the United States District Court in D.N.J., S.D.N.Y., E.D.N.Y. and E.D. Michigan.

Mr. Higgins was a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers from 1968 to 1971 and received a Bronze Medal.

He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Michigan Technological University in 1966 and a juris doctorate degree cum laude from Suffolk University Law School in 1974. He also attended the New York University School of Law, where he took courses in labor law. While at Suffolk University, he was a member of the Suffolk University Law Review from 1972 to 1974, where he published articles on criminal law, the duty of fair representation in labor law and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Higgins was a member of the American Bar Association, section of litigation, section of labor and employment law and forum on the construction industry.

He was also a member of the Defence Research Institution, the New Jersey Defense Association and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

Born in Ridgewood, he lived in Fair Lawn and Morristown before moving to Morris Township. Surviving are his wife, Nancy; sons, Jason and Greg, and a daughter, Sara.

The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ) - January 10, 2006