ACLU-NJ Mourns the Loss of Longtime Legal Director Ed Barocas

The ACLU of New Jersey today honors the life and legacy of Ed Barocas, legal director of the ACLU-NJ for almost two decades, who passed on September 11, 2026, at the age of 59.

Barocas oversaw landmark cases involving free speech, same-sex marriage, religious freedom, government secrecy, due process, and more. Following his retirement, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees, where he helped steward the ACLU-NJ’s governance for six years. In 2019, Barocas received the ACLU-NJ’s highest honor, the Roger N. Baldwin Award, given for lifetime or exceptional contributions to civil liberties in the United States, and was named the New Jersey Law Journal’s Attorney of the Year.

The following statement can be attributed to Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey:

“Ed Barocas was a dear friend, incredible colleague and mentor, and champion for justice. He dedicated his life and profession to protecting civil liberties, and his passion had a profound impact that resonated beyond New Jersey. From challenging secret detention and surveillance practices post-9/11, to petitioning the DOJ to investigate the Newark Police Department which led to a transformative consent decree, Ed played a leading role in some of the most monumental civil rights victories of our time. As the legal director of the ACLU-NJ, Ed helped build one of the most formidable litigation departments in the state. His legacy will endure through the scores of lawyers he has mentored and inspired, and the countless lives he has touched.”