Theodore Z. Davis
Judge Theodore Z. Davis
THEODORE Z. DAVIS grew up and went to high school in Camden. After receiving a B.S. degree in accounting from Temple University’s business school and the L.L.B. degree from Temple University School of Law, in 1964 he joined the law firm of Bennett, Wingate and Pascoe where he specialized in corporate tax law. He served as an assistant city attorney for the City of Camden and an assistant county prosecutor for Camden County. By 1973 he had been appointed municipal judge for the City of Camden. The late New Jersey Chief Justice Richard J. Hughes appointed Judge Davis a member of the Supreme Court Board of Bar Examiners in 1974. Judge Davis subsequently became its chairman until 1981.
Judge Davis was appointed a Superior Court judge in 1981 and named presiding judge of the Chancery Division–General Equity in 1991. He retired from the bench in 2003. As a Judge, Commissioner Davis was a frequent lecturer at judiciary seminars and seminars held by the State Bar Association.
In 1986 The Honorable Theodore Z. Davis was named chair of the New Jersey Supreme Court Task Force on Minority Concerns, the first task force of its kind in the United States. Under Judge Davis’ leadership, the task force completed an examination of racial and ethnic biases in the New Jersey Judiciary over a six-year period. The final report of the task force was published in 1992.
Judge Theodore Z. Davis was initially appointed to the Election Law Enforcement Commission in June, 2004 and reappointed in 2005.
Judge Davis is an advisor to community groups and institutions. Davis serves on the board of trustees of Temple University and on the board of the Temple University Health System. He is also a lecturer on legal topics and was an adjunct professor at Temple University School of Law for seven years. Davis is a member of the National, New Jersey and Camden County Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the U.S. Tax Court.
Judge Theodore Z. Davis is a current member of the law firm of Cozen O’Connor. A member of the Business and Commercial Litigation Department, Judge Davis is affiliated with this international firm with offices in the United States; Toronto, Canada; and London, England.
Judge Davis has served and still serves on many committees for the Supreme Court and for the state and county bar associations. He is also a lecturer on many legal topics throughout the state.
In January of 2007 Theodore Z. Davis was appointed interim Chief Operating Officer of the City of Camden by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine. He replaced former Camden Mayor Melvin “Randy” Primas, who resigned.
Man Held in Slaying Of City Shopowner
Camden Courier-Post —
By TERRY BITMAN
Courier-Post Staff
A 38-year-old Camden junkyard worker was arrested and arraigned last night in connection with Monday’s brutal rape and slaying of a Kaighns Avenue shopkeeper.
Leroy Snyder, of the 700 block Cherry Street, was arrested in his home about 9 p.m. by city and county detectives and charged on three counts, two of them in connection with the murder of Mrs. Gertrude Friedman, 58, operator of a linoleum store at 330 Kaighns Ave.
Snyder, arraigned before Camden Municipal Court Judge Theodore Z. Davis, was charged with murder and larceny and possession of stolen property in connection with the slaying.
Recover Clothing
Det. Capt. Frank Senatore said the second charge stems from police recovery of clothing and jewelry which they believe belonged to Mrs. Friedman and her husband Harold. Capt. Senatore said the items were found in Snyder’s possession.
Snyder also was charged with assault with attempt to rape in connection with the attempted rape of a South Camden woman in her home on July 26.
The suspect was placed in the Camden County Jail with a preliminary hearing scheduled Monday.
Junkyard Worker Held In Murder of Shopowner
Continued From Page One
Police said the arrest came after three days of intensive investigation into the crime. They said the suspect offered no resistance to his arrest.
Mrs. Friedman’s battered body was found early Monday afternoon on the living room floor of her apartment behind the shop by Paul Pallas of Maple Shade who operates the Storm Window Service at 336 Kaighns Ave.
An autopsy on Tuesday revealed Mrs. Friedman had been raped, beaten and slashed about the throat.
Blair M. Murphy, chief investigator for the Camden County Medical Examiners’ office said the victim died from “a penetrating wound of her neck.”
Police said she was found naked on the floor of her ransacked apartment after a customer went to the shop, got no response and summoned Pallas to the scene.
2 City Cops Are Charged With Larceny
Camden Courier-Post —
Two Camden patrolmen were arrested yesterday on charges of larceny and attempted larceny of two city businesses while investigating burglaries at the locations.
The two officers were identified as Edward Trzebuniak, 38, a five-year veteran of the force, and John Paradiso, 27, who has been on the force four years.
According to Director of Public Safety David Kelly, the arrests were the result of an internal investigation by the police department.
Kelly said the two were charged with the larceny at a warehouse belonging to the Peoples National Bank at 1331 Admiral Wilson Blvd. on Sept. 4 when an unknown quantity of goods was taken.
The other charge involved an attempted larceny at the Sport Lounge, 2616-18 Federal St. on March 11.
Kelly stressed the investigation preceding the arrests was conducted by the intelligence and detective divisions of the police department and was not prompted by any complaints from the victims.
Kelly said, “The investigation was initiated by us alone, within the department.”
He said, “There are no more arrests pending and no other locations are being investigated.”
Trzebuniak and Paradiso were released in $5,000 bail each following a hearing before Municipal Court Judge Theodore Z. Davis.
In addition to the criminal charges, Kelly said the two have been suspended pending a departmental hearing.
Trzebuniak and his brother, Stanley, also a patrolman, were acquitted June 15, 1972 of burglary and conspiracy charges involving two city automobile agencies.