By LEa Kahn
Municipal Attorney Kevin Nerwinski, who has advised Township Council since 2002, will pick up the gavel as Lawrence Township’s Municipal Court judge June 1, following his appointment to the judge’s post by the council Tuesday night.
Mr. Nerwinski replaces Municipal Court Judge Paul Catanese, who is retiring.
Judge Catanese has been Lawrence’s Municipal Court judge since 1996. The judge announced his retirement last month.
The newly appointed Municipal Court judge will be paid $88,544 annually as he fills out the remainder of Judge Catanese’s three-year term, which expires in February 2012.
The Municipal Court judge is appointed by Township Council.
Mr. Nerwinski, a Jackson Township resident, previously served as the prosecutor for the Hopewell Township and Lawrence Township municipal courts before his appointment as the municipal attorney for Lawrence Township.
Mr. Nerwinski is a 1988 graduate of Rider University, where he graduated cum laude. He earned his law degree from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia in 1994.
Now, Township Council must find another attorney to serve as the municipal attorney. The council agreed to advertise the opening and collect resumes and letters of interest from interested attorneys. The deadline to apply is May 27 at noon.
The resumes will be handed out to Township Council members, who will choose the top three candidates for interviews on May 31.
The council plans to hold a special meeting May 31 to appoint a new municipal attorney.

