The Honorable Lawrence Lerner

The Honorable Lawrence Lerner passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at his home in Highland Beach, Florida. He was 92 years old.

Lawrence was born on June 2, 1933, the youngest son of Molly and Frank Lerner. He grew up in Parkchester, Bronx, and attended New York University and New York University Law School. He was a proud veteran, having served in the U.S. Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort Benning, Georgia, in the late 1950s.

Lawrence began his career in law as a clerk at the Wilentz Firm in Woodbridge, NJ and in the early 1960s, eventually opened his own law practice, Rubin & Lerner, in New Brunswick. He was appointed a Superior Court Judge in 1984 and rose to become the presiding judge of Family Court in Middlesex County before retiring in 1999.

Lawrence was a member of the Highland Park Conservative Temple-Congregation Anshe Emeth for many years, and B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton, Florida, where he enjoyed attending services via Zoom every week when he was no longer able to attend in person. He also had homes in Highland Park, New Jersey, and Beach Haven, New Jersey.

Lawrence was predeceased by his wife, the former Marilyn Gordon, and his brother, Dr. Howard Lerner.

Lawrence was the father of Jonathan (Sherri) Lerner, Carol (Jonathan) Friedman, and Marcia (Steve) Zeidwerg. He was the grandfather (“Papa”) of Harry (Dena) Friedman, Hallie Lerner, and Rachel and Jack Zeidwerg and the great-grandfather of Shana, Michal, and Zacharia Friedman.