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N.J. court rules ’Super Lawyer’ ads are protected

TRENTON - The New Jersey Supreme Court has reversed a ruling that barred attorneys from being advertised as "the best lawyers in America" or similar superlatives.

TRENTON - The New Jersey Supreme Court has reversed a ruling that barred attorneys from being advertised as "the best lawyers in America" or similar superlatives.

The high court ruling stems from a 2005 case, in which a New Jersey attorney objected to an advertising magazine titled "New Jersey Super Lawyers" on the grounds it gave the impression that those attorneys were more qualified than others.

A state Supreme Court committee ruled in 2006 that such magazines violated state laws barring ads that are comparative in nature.

But the ruling published today holds that the ads are a form of commercial speech protected by the First Amendment.

The matter will now be taken up by two committees for expedited review.