The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-04-08
Judge Lawrence and
Judge Steinbach
Sworn In

Confirmation by the senate Of the
names Of County Judge Ruff v. Law
renee to be circuit court judge and City
Solicitor Jacob Steinbach, jr., of Long
| Branch to be common pleas court judge
OF Monmouth county. The nominations
were sent to the senate Wednesday By
Governor Moore with several others.
The names of Lawrence and Stein
bach were referred to the senate ju-
dietary committee and will be acted
on in executive session Thursday.
Before sending the Monmouth
county nominations in Governor
Moore called Senator William A
Stevens Of Long Branch to his Of
flee for consultation. This is the
usual procedure Of the governors
office. the senator from the county
in which the nominations are to take
place, being consulted.
In addition to the name of Judge
Lawrence. Governor Moore also nom
mated County Judge Newton A. Por-
ter OF Essex, Republican to the cir
cult court bench.
The nomination Of Steinbach was a
surprise to to county political circles.
Prosecutor John J. Quinn has been
mentioned as a possible successor to
Judge Lawrence.
District Court Judge Ward Krener
OF Asbury Park thruout the day was
conspicuously mentioned for the COM
mon pleas nomination as Lawrence's
successor. However. it was learned
later in the day that Judge Kremer
had declined gthe offer of Democratic
leaders from his county. Judge
Krener felt that acceptance of the
common pleas bench would curtail
his practice considerably.
AS prosecutor, Mr.. Quinn is able
to devote considerable time to his
professional practice and the same
applied to his declination.
In other nomination by Governor
Moore, Walter d. VanRiper of New
ark was nominated for the Essex
county common pleas court as Judge
Porter's successor.
A year ago Governor Silzer had
under consideration the appointment
of Judge Lawrence as a member of
the Public Utilities commission when
the senate refused to confirm the
nomination Of Frederick M. p. Pearce,
secretary to the governor. Bnt at
that time. Judge Lawrence declined
nominations, declaring he wished to
remain on the bench.
Judge Lawrence was born in Free
hold April 30, 1871, the son of the
late Jacob G. Lawrence and Elisabeth
Lawrence. He was graduated FROM the
Freehold high school in 1888 and two
years later from the Freehold institute
That same year he began the study Of
law in the Office of the late Frank b. Nc
Dermott brother of County Clerk
Joseph McDermott. Later he attend
ed the New York Law school. He
took the bar examination as an at
torney in Trenton in 1898 and was
licensed as q counselor in 1896. Four
years later he opened a law office in
Asbury Park.
In 1898 MFR. Lawrence served as a
member OF the board Of registry and
elections in the first election district
of Freehold township and a year later
succeeded the late Aaron G Hart as
clerk of the township, serving for 81
years. He has also served as a mem
Der Of the board of trustees of the
free public library and of the board
of education of Freehold for number
of years. For time he was secretary
of the Democratic county COMMITTEES.
In 1912 the then Governor Wood
row Wilson appointed Mr.. Lawrence
a member of the county board of
taxation; succeeding the late ex-
Jude William T. Hoffman. A year
previous he had been named counsel
10 the board of freeholders, where he
served until 1914, when he became
prosecutor of the pleas, to which
position he was named by Gov.
Fielder. The next year, 1915, he was
made prosecutor of the court of com
mon pleas, being reappointed in 1920
by Governor Edwards, and again in
1925 by Governor Silzer.
Mr.. Lawrence has been identified
with local affairs in Freehold for
years. He is a past master of Olive
Branch lodge, No. 16, f. and A. M.
and past regent of Royal Arcanum,
No. 1901 Of Freehold His wife was
formerly Miss Adeline s, Yard,
youngest daughter of the late Colonel
James S. Yard; for many years editor
of the Monmouth Democrat He also
has three daughters, two of whom
have taken up musical careers.