New Jersey imposes a mandatory retirement requirement for judges 70 and over.
View full sizeJudge John J. Coyle has practiced law in one form or another in Warren County since 1973. By no means was John J. Coyle enthusiastic about retiring last week from his position as chief civil judge of the vicinage representing Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset counties.
But now at the age of 70, New Jersey's mandatory retirement age for judges, the Greenwich Township resident said he's always been one to not just play by the rules, but to respect them as well."I knew when I took the job, I had to retire at age 70," Coyle said. "If the legislature decided to raise it, that would be fine. But that would not be something I would challenge."
Born in Easton and raised in Phillipsburg, Coyle graduated Notre Dame Law School in 1968, served in the Vietnam War and has roughly 40 years of experience in Warren County law. Starting as a county assistant prosecutor in 1973, he went on to work as a private attorney and serve as county attorney before being appointed as a Superior Court judge in Warren County in 2002.
He spent nearly 10 years at the courthouse in Belvidere before he was shifted to a position as a civil court judge in Somerset County and later named the chief civil judge of the tricounty vicinage.
View full sizeThen-State Superior Court Judge John Coyle presenting a diploma to Warren County Drug Court graduate Jacquelin Kirdzik, of Independence Township. John Abromitis, president of the Warren County Bar Association, said Coyle always treated everyone in his courtroom, whether defendant or plaintiff, with the utmost respect.
"He was very well respected in the legal community," Abromitis said.
Coyle had a great talent for settling court matters without a trial and especially knew how to make a jury feel comfortable, Abromitis said.
"He was always very good with putting them at ease and being very fair with them," Abromitis said.
The bar association is hosting a retirement party for Coyle in Readington Township on June 19. But just because the state is making him give up the gavel, that doesn't mean Coyle is ready to give law a rest.
He will soon join the law firm Purcell, Mulcahy, Hawkins, Flanagan and Lawless, where he will split time between its Somerset County headquarters and a satellite office in Lopatcong Township. Coyle said he plans to handle cases of mediation, arbitration and personal injury.
"I really enjoyed being a judge. I really look forward to my new career," Coyle said. "In life, you have to move on."
When he looks back on his career as a local judge, Coyle said he's especially pleased with the work he was able to accomplish while presiding over county drug court.
"I was really proud to be a part of it," he said.
Another perk to the bench for Coyle was dealing with juveniles. He said he was always one to believe in second chances and when those gambles did indeed pay off, they were extremely gratifying.
Occasionally, he says, he'll have a stranger come up to him and say, "You don't know who I am, but you helped my son or daughter. You gave them a second chance."
And while he won't have another opportunity to don the black robe and pound the gavel, Coyle will at least always have those memories.
"If I could do it over again, I certainly would," he said.