CJ Griffin

CJ Griffin is a partner at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. and has served as director of the firm’s Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center since its founding in 2019.

For more than a decade, CJ has represented reporters and others in hundreds of public records cases, including matters under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). CJ also advises clients on First Amendment matters involving free speech and media law (including defamation, trade libel, anti-SLAPP, shield law protection, and public records access).

CJ’s public records cases have significantly expanded access to law enforcement records such as dash cameras, body-worn cameras, use of force reports, and police misconduct records. CJ’s landmark victory in Rivera v. Union County Prosecutor’s Office, 250 N.J. 124 (2022), allowed public access to police internal affairs reports for the first time in state history—a ruling with potential national implications, as noted by Reuters.

Under CJ’s leadership, the Stein Public Interest Center has been at the forefront of public interest litigation and appellate advocacy that advances social, racial, and economic justice; safeguards civil liberties and constitutional rights; protects democracy; and promotes open, transparent, and accountable government. Super Lawyers profiled CJ and the Center in its 2021 article, "The Inspired CJG - How the RBG Documentary Moved CJ Griffin to Build a First-of-Its-Kind Public-Interest Center."

Renowned for appellate advocacy, CJ has argued at least 25 cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court and has worked on more than 75 cases that resulted in precedential opinions. This includes dozens of arguments on behalf of non-profit organizations serving as amicus curiae, helping shape the law on issues with broad public impact.

In recognition of her public interest work, CJ has received the “Making Democracy Work” Award from the League of Women Voters of New Jersey (2024), the “Hon. Lawrence A. Whipple Memorial” Award from the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (2022), and the “Partners in Justice” Award from Partners for Women and Justice (2021).

CJ’s advocacy has also drawn acclaim from the media. In 2025, The Jersey Vindicator profiled CJ as a defender of democracy in, “Meet CJ Griffin, One of New Jersey’s Fiercest Advocates for Government Transparency.” In 2022, New Jersey Monitor honored CJ in a tribute titled "In Praise of CJ Griffin, Who Fights to Shine a Spotlight on N.J. Government.” And the Star Ledger named CJ one of “20 Jerseyans to Watch in 2020.”

CJ is proud of the results achieved for clients, some of which are noted here and under the “Important Cases” section of this biography.  Of course, each legal matter is unique on many levels, and past successes are not a guarantee of results in any other pending or future matters.

The New Jersey Legal Awards are published by the New Jersey Law Journal. A description of the selection methodology can be found at Methodology: New Jersey Legal Awards (NJLA).

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Honors & Recognitions

• League of Women Voters of New Jersey, “Making Democracy Work” Award (2024)
• Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, Honorable Lawrence A. Whipple Memorial Award, 2022
• Partners for Women and Justice, “Partner in Justice Award,” 2021
• New Jersey Law Journal, Attorney of the Year Finalist, 2020, 2018
• National Law Journal, “2019 Litigation Trailblazer”
• New Jersey Bar Association, Young Lawyer’s Division--Professional Achievement Award, 2017
• Selected for inclusion in the list of Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025
• Selected for inclusion in the list of New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2020-2025
• Selected for inclusion in the list of New Jersey Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2013-2019
• Selected for inclusion in the list of NJBIZ "2024 Law Power 50" List
• Named #12 on InsiderNJ’s 2025, “Cannabis Power List”
• Named #13 on InsiderNJ’s 2024, “Insider Out 100 LGBTQ Power List”
• Named #16 on InsiderNJ's 2023 "Insider Out 100 LGBTQ Power List"
• Named #7 on InsiderNJ's 2022 "Insider Out 100 LGBTQ Power List" and named in the top 10 on Insider NJ's 2021 "Insider Out 100 LGBTQ Power List"
• Named #12 on InsiderNJ's 2022 “Insider 100: Cannabis Power List”
• Senator Loretta Weinberg’s “Women’s Power List", 2019-2021, 2023
• InsiderNJ, “Insider 100: Cannabis Power List,” 2021 & 2019
• Databird’s Research Journal, “250 Cannabis Law Experts” List, 2018
• InsiderNJ, “Insider 100 LGBT Power” List, 2018-2020

The “2024 Law Power 50” List is published by the NJBiz. A description of the selection methodology can be found at Power List Methodology - NJBIZ.

The Best Lawyers list is issued by BL Rankings, LLC of the selection methodology can be found at https://www.bestlawyers.com/About/MethodologyBasic.aspx.

The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found at http://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html.

The New Jersey Rising Star list is issued by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found at http://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html.

The Insider 100: Cannabis Power List is issued by Insider NJ. A description of the selection methodology can be found at https://www.insidernj.com/2021-insider-cannabis-power/.

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Blog Posts

Community & Professional

• ACLU-NJ, Board of Trustees, Vice President (2016-Present)
• New Jersey State Bar Association, 2009-Present
  • Media Law Committee, Co-Chair, 2018-current
  • LGBT Rights Section, Chair, 2015; Member, current
  • Bylaws & Resolutions Committee, 2018-current
  • Amicus Committee, 2018-current
• Association of Criminal Lawyers of New Jersey, 2020-present
  • Police Accountability Committee, 2020-Present
• New Jersey Law Journal’s Young Lawyers Advisory Board, Former Member

• In re Malinowski, 481 N.J. Super. 128 (App. Div. 2025)
• Fuster v. Twp. of Chatham, 259 N.J. 533 (2025)
• In re Adoption of N.J.A.C. 5:105-1.6(a)(1), 479 N.J. Super. 301 (App. Div. 2024)
• of Educ. of Sparta v. M.N., 258 N.J. 333 (App. Div. 2025)
• State v. Higgenbotham, 257 N.J. 260 (2024)
• Savage v. Twp. of Neptune, 257 N.J. 204 (2024)
• R. v. M.T., 257 N.J. 126 (2024)
• ACLU of N.J. v. County Prosecutor’s Ass’n of N.J., 257 N.J. 87 (2024)
• State v. Harrell, 256 N.J. 590 (2024)
• State v. Knight, 256 N.J. 404 (2024)
• State v. Fair, 256 N.J. 213 (2024)
• State v. Washington, 256 N.J. 136 (2024)
• State v. Rosado, 256 N.J. 93 (2023)
• Williams v. N.J. State Parole Board, 255 N.J. 36 (2023)
• State v. Allen, 254 N.J. 530 (2023)
• State v. Cohen, 254 N.J. 308 (2023)
• Gannett Satellite Info. Network v. Twp of Neptune, 254 N.J. 242 (2023)
• State v. Berry, 254 N.J. 129 (2023)
• State v. Williams, 254 N.J. 8 (2023)
• State v. Higgs, 253 N.J. 333 (2023)
• State v. Gomes, 253 N.J. 6 (2023)
• State v. Canfield, 252 N.J. 497 (2023)
• State v. A.M., 252 N.J. 432 (2023)
• State v. Ramirez, 252 N.J. 277 (2022)
• State v. Bailey, 251 N.J. 101 (2022)
• State v. Thompson, 250 N.J. 556 (2022)
• State v. Bell, 250 N.J. 519 (2022)
• Acoli v. N.J. State Parole Board, 250 N.J. 431 (2022)
• State v. O.D.A.-C., 250 N.J. 408 (2022)
• State v. Sims, 250 N.J. 189 (2022)
• Rivera v. Union County Prosecutor’s Office, 250 N.J. 124 (2022)
• Libertarians for Transparent Gov’t v. Cumberland County, 250 N.J. 46 (2022)
• State v. Francisco, 471 N.J. Super. 386 (App. Div. 2022)
• State v. Gonzalez, 249 N.J. 612 (2022)
• State v. Ryan, 249 N.J. 581 (2022)
• State v. Nyema, 249 N.J. 509 (2022)
• State v. Comer, 249 N.J. 359 (2022)
• State v. Caronna, 469 N.J. Super. 462 (App. Div. 2021)
• R. v. M.T., 248 N.J. 428 (2021)
• Bozzi v. City of Jersey City, 248 N.J. 274 (2021)
• State v. Carter, 247 N.J. 488 (2021)
• State v. Andujar, 247 N.J. 275 (2021)
• In re Attorney Gen. Law Enf't Directive Nos. 2020-5 & 2020-6, 246 N.J. 462 (2021)
• Gannett Satellite Info. Network, LLC v. Twp. of Neptune, 467 N.J. Super. 385 (App. Div. 2021)
• State v. Lopez-Carrera, 245 N.J. 596 (2021)
• State v. Garcia, 245 N.J. 412 (2021)
• In re Atty Gen. Law Enf't Directive Nos. 2020-5 & 2020-6, 465 N.J. Super. 111 (App. Div. 2020)
• Fraternal Order of Police, Newark Lodge No. 12 v. City of Newark, 244 N.J 75 (2020)
• State v. Courtney, 243 N.J. 77 (2020)
• State v. Greene, 242 N.J. 530 (2020)
• Friedman v. Martinez, 242 N.J. 449 (2020)
• State v. J.V., 242 N.J. 432 (2020)
• State v. Trinidad, 241 N.J. 425 (2020)
• Wild v. Carriage Funeral Holdings Inc., 241 N.J. 285 (2020)
• State v. Shaw, 241 N.J. 223 (2020)
• Digital First Media v. Ewing Twp., 462 N.J. Super. 389 (App. Div. 2020)
• R. v. Camden City Pub. Sch. Dist., 238 N.J. 547 (2019)
• Correa v. Grossi, 458 N.J. Super. 571 (App. Div. 2019)
• Piscitelli v. City of Garfield Zoning Bd., 237 N.J. 333 (2019)
• Paff v. Ocean Cnty. Prosecutor's Office, 235 N.J. 1 (2018)
• Kean Federation of Teachers v. Morel, 233 N.J. 566 (2018)
• Brennan v. Bergen Cnty. Prosecutor’s Office, 233 N.J. 330 (2018)
• Scheeler v. Atl. Cnty. Mun. Joint Ins. Fund, 454 N.J. Super. 621 (App. Div. 2018)
• Petro-Lubricant Testing Labs, Inc. v. Asher Adelman, 233 N.J. 236 (2018)
• Libertarians for Transp. Gov’t v. Gov’t Records Council, 453 N.J. Super. 83 (App. Div. 2018)
• Wronko v. N.J.S.P.C.A., 453 N.J. Super. 73 (App. Div. 2018)
• In re New Jersey Firemen’s Ass’n, 230 N.J. 258 (2017)
• Jersey Media Group Inc. v. Office of Gov., 451 N.J. Super. 282 (App. Div. 2017)
• Jersey Media Group Inc. v. Twp. of Lyndhurst, 229 N.J. 541 (2017)
• State v. Bacome, 228 N.J. 94 (2017)
• Gilleran v. Twp. of Bloomfield, 227 N.J. 159 (2016)
• Jersey Media Group Inc. v. Twp. of Lyndhurst, 441 N.J. Super. 70 (App. Div. 2015)
• Gilleran v. Twp. of Bloomfield, 440 N.J. Super. 490 (App. Div.  2015)
• State v. Tate, 220 N.J. 393 (2015)
• Turner v. Twp. of Irvington, 430 J. Super. 274 (App. Div. 2013)
• Headen v. Jersey City Bd. of Educ., 212 N.J. 437 (2012)
• Wilson ex rel. Manzano v. City of Jersey City, 209 N.J. 558 (2012)