N.J. justices order review of lawyers' ad restriction

TRENTON - The New Jersey Supreme Court has thrown out a ruling that barred using "the best lawyers in America" or similar superlatives to advertise lawyers.

In 2005, a lawyer objected to an advertising magazine, New Jersey Super Lawyers, on the ground that it implied those lawyers were more qualified than others. A Supreme Court committee ruled in 2006 that such magazines violated state laws barring ads that are comparative.

But the 5-0 ruling published yesterday holds that the ads are protected by the First Amendment, and that the laws must be modified.

- AP