The New Jersey State Bar Association's (NJSBA's) governing body took positions last month on legislation, reviewed compliance among its leaders with diversity and inclusion efforts, and spoke out on judicial vacancies and courthouse security.

The Board of Trustees met Sept. 20 at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick. Here is a look at what the trustees did:

Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and Individual Checklists: The board reviewed data it collected over three years about actions individual trustees had taken to advance the goals of diversity and inclusion in their personal and professional lives.

The data showed NJSBA trustees increased their diversity and inclusion activities between 2016-17 and 2018-19. In addition, the NJSBA has seen a steady increase in the survey's return rate, from 76 percent in 2016-17 to 96 percent in 2018-19.

The survey measured NJSBA trustees' responses to a checklist of examples of diversity and inclusion activities. The most frequently completed activities reported by trustees included: developing a mentoring relationship with an attorney or law student of a diverse background; attending a conference, program or seminar on a diversity-related topic; and attending an event or function where the trustee was in the minority. The checklists are an ongoing effort and the questions and categories are constantly being reviewed.

Committee name change: The board voted that the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Committee will now be known as the Committee on Lawyer Well-Being, in line with a more expansive view of attorney wellness issues and practices of other bar associations.

Legislation: The Board of Trustees approved taking positions on several measures pending before the New Jersey Legislature. The board voted to support:

A-5213 Lopez/S-3815 Vitale, which "makes child support arrearages collectable anytime by public welfare or other social services board or agency against obligor or obligor's estate based on amount of public assistance provided due to obligor's failure to pay support."

A-5396 Vainieri Huttle/S-3528 Scutari, which "establishes a process to obtain judgment of adoption for civil union partner or spouse of natural or legal parent of child when that person is named as parent on child's birth certificate."

Special speakers: The Board of Trustees voted to approve several speakers for special seminars. The board approved a return for the presidential historic reenactors who appear in Revolutionary Minds; Steven Stark, a writing expert; Samuel D. Hodge, who teaches anatomy for lawyers; Barron Henley, who will discuss using technology effectively; Steven Rosen, of Movie Magic—How the Masters Try Cases; and Tom Blaisse, a time management and performance expert.