Bain is the 2004 Lawyer of the Year

NEWTON-Thomas J. Bain of Morris, Downing & Sherred has been named the 2004 Lawyer of the Year by the Sussex County Bar Association and the New Jersey Commission On Professionalism In The Law. Bain joined Morris, Downing & Sherred, One Main Street in Newton in 1958 and has served the firm as Associate, Partner and Managing Partner. He has been Of Counsel with the firm since 1999. His practice is focused on real estate, estates and municipal law. The Lawyer of the Year award is presented annually to lawyers who, by virtue of their conduct, competence and demeanor, set a positive example for others in the profession; someone lawyers can point to with pride as a true professional. The Award will be presented to Bain at the Commission's Professionalism Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Law Center in New Brunswick. Chief Justice Deborah Poritz and Chief Judge John Bissell are expected to attend and help present the awards. In addition to serving Morris, Downing & Sherred, Bain has been the Municipal Court Judge for many years for the Municipal Courts of Franklin, Hamburg and Hardyston and Municipal Court of Frankford and Lafayette. He is the current Borough Attorney for the Borough of Branchville and has also represented Sandyston Township and Montague Township. He is a Member and Past President of the Sussex County Bar Association, Member of the New Jersey Bar and American Bar Associations; Member and Past President of the Branchville Rotary and Businessmen Clubs; Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board of the Newton Trust Company; Former Member and Chairman of the Newton Memorial Hospital; Former Member and President of Newton Country Club and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Branchville Cemetery Association. Bain is a graduate of Blair Academy, Princeton University and Harvard Law School. A life-long Sussex County resident, Bain and his wife, Ann, have three grown children (Carolyn Ottenbreit, Virginia Maybank and Gordon T. Bain) and reside in Augusta.