FARRAH MAFFAI Ronald L. Reisner’s wife Chris smiles with pride as her husband is sworn in as a Superior Court judge by Superior Court Judge Clarkson Fisher Jr. at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold on Dec. 21.

FREEHOLD — With the son of his mentor administering the oath, Ronald L. Reisner became Monmouth County’s newest Superior Court judge amid praise from his colleagues in the law for his talent, ability and work ethic.

Superior Court Judge Clarkson S. Fisher Jr. administered the oath in a ceremony in the jury assembly room at the Monmouth County Courthouse Dec. 21 while Reisner’s wife Chris and daughter Allison held the Bible he placed his hand on.

Fisher is the son of the late U.S. District Court Judge Clarkson S. Fisher, whom Reisner clerked for out of Duke University law school and who he attributes with encouraging him to aspire to be a judge himself.

Reisner’s judicial robe was presented to him by the principals in the Red Bank law firm he most recently was associated with, Dennis, Ronald and Brian Drazin of Drazin & Warshaw, and his former law partner, Superior Court Judge Eugene A. Iadanza, who told the guests a little about his career at their firm.

Reisner, an Oceanport resident and graduate of Shore Regional High School, became the third member of the former law firm of Gagliano, Tucci, Iadanza & Reisner to be elevated to the bench. Superior Court Judge James A. Kennedy was appointed a judge in 1981 and Iadanza in 1992.

Reisner served in the Gagliano, Tucci, Iadanza & Reisner law firm and its successors for 15 years before joining the Drazin law firm in 1997.

Iadanza recalled how the Gagliano firm "stole" Reisner from a North Jersey law firm in 1982 after Kennedy was appointed to the bench.

"We wanted to have a highly polished, experienced trial attorney and that’s what Ron was," he said. He also praised Reisner for his work ethic.

Former state Sen. S. Thomas Gagliano, another past partner in the law firm that was located in West Long Branch, was among the guests.

Dennis Drazin, the oldest of the brothers, recounted when he clerked for the elder Fisher in 1975, he met Reisner while he was an assistant U.S. attorney.

"He guided us and tutored us," Drazin said of Fisher. "He took care of his boys. Ron quickly became a study. Judge Fisher said, ‘Watch Ron Reisner.’ "

"He was a good and friendly adversary," Drazin recalled of the years before Reisner joined their firm. "But you knew when you went up against Ron Reisner, you had better be prepared. He knew everything in a case file."

Superior Court Judge Lawrence M. Lawson, the Monmouth County assignment judge, recalled how he and Reisner worked in legal services together in law school and studied together for their law exam. Reisner later remembered how the two of them drove together with Superior Court Judges Paul F. Chaiet and Thomas W. Cavanagh Jr. to take the test in 1972.

Lawson noted that during Reisner’s "long and respected career," he initially did a great deal of work in insurance, then later took up municipal land use matters.

"Judge Reisner has exhibited outstanding ability and talent during his legal career," he said. "He is a greatly welcomed addition to the Monmouth vicinage."

When Reisner took the podium, he thanked many people, including state Sen. John O. Bennett III, majority leader of the Senate and soon to be co-president of it, for whose campaigns Reisner has served as treasurer.

"Without his support I wouldn’t be here now," Reisner said.

But Reisner saved his biggest thanks for the departed elder Fisher.

"We all need a mentor," he said. "When you come here, you have to be pushed. You cannot survive without someone experienced and older helping. … He did treat me as a son."