Judge David F. Bauman (Ret.)

Judge David F. Bauman (Ret.) is a Principal in the New Jersey office and a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group and the Neutral Arbitrators and Mediators Group. Judge Bauman served in all four divisions of the New Jersey Superior Court over his 16 years on the bench, 15 of which he served as Presiding Judge in the Civil (2009-2015; 2021-2023), Criminal (2016-2021), and Chancery (2023-2024) divisions. Before his appointment to the bench in 2008, Judge Bauman worked as an attorney in our New Jersey office and was a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group for 17 years, from 1991 to 2008.

During his time on the bench, Judge Bauman presided over many controversial and high-profile cases involving commercial law, personal injury, auto negligence and insurance coverage issues, election law, public contract law, criminal law, civil rights and probate law. Among his many decisions, Judge Bauman ruled in a published opinion that the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance do not violate the equal protection clause of the New Jersey Constitution.

Judge Bauman was twice nominated by former Governor Chris Christie for the position of Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, but neither nomination received a Senate confirmation hearing.

Prior to Bressler, Judge Bauman served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1988 to 1991 as a prosecutor, defense counsel, and special counsel, Naval Investigative Service, and served as lead trial counsel on several high-profile cases involving violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He then served in the Marine Corps Reserve as a staff judge advocate, commanding officer and appellate government counsel, attaining the rank of Major.

A former member of the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education, Judge Bauman proposed and presented reenactments of civil rights trials involving Asian Americans at the New Jersey Judicial College and the Administrative Office of the Courts. He has been a speaker and presenter at numerous seminars, sponsored by state and county bar associations, and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University, where he teaches appellate advocacy.

Judge Bauman graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and earned his J.D. from Boston College Law School.

Experience

• Designated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey to serve as Presiding Judge in three divisions: Civil (2009-2015; 2021-2023), Criminal (2016-2021), and General Equity (2023-2024)

News & Alerts

Speaking Engagements & Events

Articles & Publications

Professional Affiliations

• New Jersey State Bar Association
• Monmouth Bar Association

Civic Involvement

• Adjunct Professor, Seton Hall Law School

Awards & Honors

• Minority Judge’s Award, New Jersey State Bar Association, 2015
• NJ Super Lawyer
• APALA-NJ’s Achievement Award, 2008
• “Diversity Advocate” by Multicultural Law Magazine
• Navy Commendation Medal
• Letter of Commendation, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps
• Certificate of Commendation, 2d Battalion, 25th Marines

Get to Know Judge David Bauman (Ret.)

Fishing, Astronomy, Cycling and Drawing are amongst Judge Bauman’s many hobbies. He is also a die-hard Yankees fan. Judge Bauman has been married to his beautiful wife, Laura, for 24 years and is a proud father to two wonderful kids, Nick and Alexandra. His son, Nick, played sprint football for UPenn, graduated from the Wharton School in 2024 and is working as an analyst at a prominent investment bank in NYC. His daughter, Alexandra, is a sophomore at Lehigh, his wife’s alma mater, where she cheerleads for the football and basketball teams and is studying journalism and theater.