FRANKLIN G. WHITTLESEY

Franklin G. Whittlesey

Franklin G. Whittlesey attended Seton Hall University and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Criminal Justice. He was a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta National Honor Society and a Seton Hall Centennial Scholar.


Mr. Whittlesey attended Seton Hall University School of Law and graduated at the top of his class in 1994. While in law school, Mr. Whittlesey served as an Associate Editor of the Seton Hall Law School Constitutional Law Journal, and his article on the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments was published in the Journal's Volume 5, Number 1 Edition in the Fall of 1994. Mr. Whittlesey also worked as a legal assistant to Professor Eugene Gressman, a noted Constitutional Law scholar, and former law clerk to Associate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Frank Murphy. During his third year of law school, Mr. Whittlesey volunteered as an attorney for the Somerset-Sussex County Legal Services.


Mr. Whittlesey was admitted to the Bar in the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1994. He was also admitted to the United States District Court for the State of New Jersey as well as the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. In 1999, Mr. Whittlesey was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Franklin G. Whittlesey — Flemington, NJ — Scholl & Whittlesey, LLC

MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION

Franklin G. Whittlesey has served as Borough Attorney and Labor Counsel for a multitude of municipal clients in Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren, and Middlesex County. These communities include the Borough of Manville, Borough of Flemington, Township of Independence, Township of East Amwell, as well as, the City of South Amboy and Borough of South Plainfield.


He is experienced in all aspects of local government law. What differentiates Mr. Whittlesey from other attorneys in this area is his own service as a former elected official and he has served in virtually every municipal position including Council President, Planning Board Member, Police Commissioner, Finance Chairman, and Municipal Court Liaison.


Mr. Whittlesey has represented the County of Somerset in matters involving its Recycling Department in which he obtained $1,000,000 judgment for the County in a civil action. He has also represented the County in matters involving Open Space and land acquisition transactions. In matters of employment, Mr. Whittlesey has served as a hearing officer in disputed employee grievance cases involving County employees and Sheriff's Officers.


When the County of Somerset chose to establish its own self-insured medical plan for its employees, Mr. Whittlesey worked with the newly created Somerset County Insurance Commission as its legal counsel. Mr. Whittlesey continues to serve as legal counsel for the County, which now ensures its employees through the self-funded Southern Skylands Regional Health Insurance Fund.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY - FORMER MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR

Municipal Prosecutors play a major role in ensuring consistency and improving the quality of justice in our State's municipal courts. The Municipal Prosecutor in the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in a municipality and reports directly to the County Prosecutor.


Between 1997 to 2005, Franklin G. Whittlesey served as a Municipal Prosecutor in Hillsborough Township, the City of South Amboy, Borough of South Plainfield, Borough of South Bound Brook, and Middlesex Borough. In this capacity, he worked alongside local law enforcement and he has prosecuted thousands of traffic, criminal cases, and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) offenses. Mr. Whittlesey is regarded as one of the most experienced criminal and municipal court attorneys in New Jersey.


Mr. Whittlesey now represents clients charged with all levels of criminal conduct, including, but not limited to:

  • Indictable Criminal Cases For All Types Of Crimes;
  • Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) And Other Traffic Offenses;
  • All Juvenile Delinquency Offenses;
  • Narcotics And Illegal Drug Possession And Distribution;
  • Sexual Assault And Related Offenses;
  • White-Collar Crime Including Money Laundering And Fraud.

MATRIMONIAL LAW AND FAMILY MATTERS

Franklin G. Whittlesey has extensive experience in Family and Matrimonial matters. He has served as the Chairman of the Family Practice Committee and serves regularly as a volunteer on the Early Settlement Panel and as a Court-Appointed Mediator.


Mr. Whittlesey has litigated hundreds of divorce matters and child custody cases. He is well versed in all aspects of family matters, including Child Custody disputes, Alimony, Child Support issues, DCP&P child abuse, and neglect matters.


As a mediator, Mr. Whittlesey always works to bring people together and to resolve cases in a fair and civil manner.


In cases where mediation is not successful, Mr. Whittlesey has tried many cases to a favorable conclusion.


Mr. Whittlesey is widely regarded as an expert on prosecuting and defending domestic violence cases and he has worked as a volunteer attorney for Safe in Hunterdon as well as the Hunterdon County Battered Woman's Shelter. Mr. Whittlesey continues to represent both victims and defendants charged with Domestic Violence.

CIVIL LITIGATION AND ESTATE AND PROBATE MATTERS

Mr. Whittlesey handles contested probate matters as well as guardianship cases. He is regularly appointed by the Court as a Guardian Ad Litem and he appears regularly in the Surrogate's Court on these matters.


Mr. Whittlesey represents the Somerset County Adjustor's Office in connection with Civil Commitment cases, and he handles all of the KROL review cases for Somerset County. In matters where a criminal defendant has been found not guilty by reason of insanity, Mr. Whittlesey has been responsible for the periodic review of these offenders in the Court.


As a civil litigator, Mr. Whittlesey has represented clients in all types of civil disputes including, but not limited to:

  • Breach Of Contract And Construction Disputes
  • Defamation And Malicious Prosecution Cases
  • Debt Collection
  • Landlord/Tenant Disputes
  • Wrongful Termination And Whistleblower Actions

SERVICE TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION & COMMUNITY

Franklin G. Whittlesey was elected President of the Hunterdon County Bar Association in 2008, and he continued to serve as a Trustee of the local bar for many years. He has also served as Trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Association.


In 1998, Mr. Whittlesey was named "Young Lawyer Of The Year" by the Hunterdon County Bar, and he continues to volunteer his time furthering the goals of the legal profession through pro bono work. Mr. Whittlesey was a frequent guest speaker for the National Association of Legal Secretaries and a former volunteer attorney for victims of domestic violence through the Safe in Hunterdon organization.

FORMER COMMISIONER - SOMERSET RARITAN VALLEY SEWERAGE AUTHORITY

The Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority, established in 1958, is a regional wastewater treatment plant located in Somerset County, New Jersey. This independent local government agency serves seven communities, including, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Manville, Raritan, Somerville, and Warren.


Franklin G. Whittlesey is a former Commissioner of the Authority serving from 1996 to 1999. As Commissioner, he worked to improve facility functions and uncovered billing discrepancies which saved taxpayers thousands of dollars.

RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADVISORY BOARD, INSTITUTE OF HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES

The Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Raritan Valley Community College offers educational programs for educators, students, and the community. Through education and unique programming, the Institue, a collaboration between RVCC and the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties, promotes awareness, understanding, and compassion.


Franklin G. Whittlesey served as a member of the Advisory Board and worked alongside educators, Holocaust survivors, and other volunteers to promote educational seminars, workshops, and presentations for students and teachers about the lessons learned from the Holocaust as well as genocides that continue today.

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