Herman Michels, a noted lawyer and the former presiding judge for administration of New Jersey's appellate courts division, has died. He was 83.

Michels death on Friday was announced by Gibbons PC, where he served as the law firm's counsel. The firm — which has offices in New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia and Delaware — did not disclose further details, including a cause of death.

The Short Hills resident was appointed to the bench in 1972. He was assigned to the appellate division two years later and became its presiding judge in 1980. He was named as the division's presiding judge for administration in 1985 and served until his retirement in September 1997.

During his time on the bench, Michels wrote more than 3,000 appellate division opinions, including 400 which were published. He was a graduate of Rutgers Law School.

After retiring as a judge, Michels spent more than 10 years with the Gibbons firm, serving as an arbitrator or mediator for hundreds of legal matters. He also was a past chairman of New Jersey's state ethics commission.

"The Judiciary has lost a great champion of the courts and the rule of law," said New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. "For those with whom he served, it was an honor to have worked with a truly great man and mentor.

A attorney has been suspended by the South Carolina Supreme Court, barring him from practicing law in the state for two years.

According to documents filed last month, Jeffrey Scott Holcombe of Irmo admitted misconduct and consented to the disciplinary action. The matter was brought before the Supreme Court by the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

Holcombe admitted to the court he violated several provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct to provide competent representation, acting with reasonable diligence and promptness and holding client property in his possession separate from the lawyer's own property.

The court cited three matters in reaching its decision to suspend Holcombe from practicing law. Holcombe represented a client who had been injured on a cruise ship while he worked with one law firm. After leaving the firm, Holcombe's lack of action on the case caused the stature of limitations to run out on the client's claim against the cruise line.

The court documents also showed Holcombe didn't notify another client of the outcome of his post-conviction relief matter. He also failed to respond to the Disciplinary Counsel's initial inquiry into the matter.

Gail J. Koff, who could be considered the silent partner in the national law firm Jacoby & Meyers, a sort of legal Wal-Mart for the middle class, died Tuesday in Manhattan, where she lived. She was 65.

The cause was complications of leukemia, her former husband, Ralph Brill, said.

Ms. Koff was not there in September 1972 when Stephen Z. Meyers and Leonard G. Jacoby, his former law school classmate at the University of California, Los Angeles, opened their first storefront office in Van Nuys. But her aspirations matched those of the founders, and six years later she became the third partner, though unidentified in the firm’s name, assigned to open the first New York office.

Recognizing that the rich can afford lawyers and that the poor have access to free assistance programs, Jacoby & Meyers focused on serving average people who could often not afford to hire a lawyer at prevailing rates.

The firm set off something of a revolution in the field by using mass-marketing techniques and charging flat fees for services. It opened walk-in neighborhood “legal clinics” staffed by general practitioners who had access to teams of specialists in areas like bankruptcy, real estate, personal injury, divorce and criminal law.

Lamb McErlane PC, a full service law firm that has built a reputation on delivering the highest caliber of legal service in an environment focused on personal attention and results, has named Thomas P. Hogan as a partner at the firm. Hogan previously joined the firm after working as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania as well as an Assistant District Attorney in Chester County.

"We are thrilled to have Tom join our team of partners," states Managing Partner Joel L. Frank. "He brings tremendous experience as well as dedication and a focus on successful outcomes to his practice and to the firm as a whole."

Hogan's practice includes multiple aspects of corporate and internal investigations, government relations, and complex commercial litigation. He has successfully defended corporations and individuals in securities litigation, class actions, intellectual property disputes, civil rights claims, contract issues, product liability claims, private equity issues, and regulatory litigation. He also serves as coordinating counsel for larger clients dealing with recurring litigation issues on a broad scale. His clients include Fortune 500 companies, public and privately held entities, municipal and educational organizations, and individuals.

Lamb McErlane is a full service law firm, comprised of 30+ attorneys, that has built a reputation on delivering the highest caliber of legal service in an environment focused on personal attention and results. Bringing the sophistication and experience often equated with large, metropolitan firms, Lamb McErlane's effective and efficient approach produces work their clients respect at rates they can appreciate.

The Ginsburgs celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary last week. They met on a blind date as undergraduates at Cornell University.

Martin Ginsburg was an expert in tax law and taught at New York University, Columbia University and Georgetown University over the course of his career.

Judy Areen, interim dean of Georgetown University Law Center, said Sunday: "Marty Ginsburg was not only one of the most innovative legal thinkers of our time, he was a gifted teacher and respected colleague. He will be deeply missed."