NEWARK, NJ – Seton Hall University School of Law and the Saint Thomas More Association will honor Christopher Christie, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, with the Saint Thomas More Medal at their 23rd Annual Red Mass on Sunday, September 30.

The Red Mass takes place at noon at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Following the Red Mass, a luncheon will be held at 2 p.m. at Mayfair Farms in West Orange.

Christie was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey on December 7, 2001. He was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on December 20, 2001 and sworn into office on January 17, 2002 by the Honorable Joel A. Pisano.

Now in his sixth year as the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey, Christie is in charge of a 139-lawyer operation with offices in Newark, Trenton and Camden. His office is charged with the enforcement of federal civil and criminal laws in New Jersey.

In that capacity he works with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and other federal agencies in New Jersey. Christie began his legal career in 1987 when he joined the law firm of Dughi, Hewit & Palatucci in Cranford. In 1993, he was named a partner in the firm. He was admitted to the Bar of the State of New Jersey and the Bar of the United States District Court, District of New Jersey in 1987. From 1995 to 1997, Christie served as a Morris County freeholder and was elected freeholder director in 1997. In 2004, he was named one of America’s top 10 prosecutors by the Corporate Crime Reporter.

The Saint Thomas More Medal is being presented to Christie in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of law, service to the community and Catholic Church.

After graduating from the University of Delaware in 1984 with a B.A. degree, Christie attended Seton Hall University School of Law where he graduated in 1987 with a J.D. degree.

He has been married to his wife, Mary Pat, for 21 years and they are the parents of four children. Born and raised in New Jersey, he currently resides in Mendham with his family.

Red Mass is traditionally a Solemn Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated at the beginning of the judicial year to invoke God’s blessing and guidance in the administration of justice. The Red Mass is named from the red vestments used in celebrating the Mass and from the red robes traditionally worn by judges in the Middle Ages. The celebrants – government officials, lawyers and judges – proceed into a church clothed in red vestments or red garments, signifying the fire of the Holy Spirit’s guidance to those who pursue justice in their daily lives.

The first Red Mass in the United States took place in New York City in 1928, celebrated at the old St. Andrew’s Church on Duane Street by His Eminence Patrick Cardinal Hayes, who strongly encouraged and supported the legal community’s involvement in spreading the Word of God. Since that time, many groups of Catholic attorneys have continued to celebrate the Red Mass annually.

 The cost of the lunch is $65 and reservations are required. To register for the lunch, please contact the Seton Hall Law School Alumni Office at (973) 642-8711.

 

The only private law school in New Jersey, Seton Hall University School of Law was founded in 1951, and is located in the city of Newark. Seton Hall Law School offers both day and evening programs leading to the Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.) and Master of Science in Jurisprudence (M.S.J.) degrees. For more information on Seton Hall Law School, visit law.shu.edu.