William Schmidt:
CLASS OF 1966
Paramus High SchoolClass of 1966
Paramus, NJ
Pace University - LawClass of 1980
White plains, NY
St. Petersburg Junior CollegeClass of 1971
St. petersburg, FL
William's Story
PROFILE
HONORABLE WILLIAM H. SCHMIDT
BERGEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
Bergen County Prosecutor William H. Schmidt is a lifelong resident of Paramus,
Bergen County, New Jersey. Born October 3, 1948, Mr. Schmidt entered the United States Naval Reserve after graduating from Paramus High School in 1966. He served on active duty with the United States Navy from June 1967 through May 1969. After graduating Navy Hospital Corps School with academic honors, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS America (CVA-66). During Americaâs deployment for combat operations on âYankee Stationâ in the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam his various duties included service as the night master-at-arms in charge of the emergency room aboard the America.
Mr. Schmidt attended St. Petersburg Junior College, Clearwater, Florida, graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in 1971. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, N.J., transferring to William Paterson College of New Jersey, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree, summa cum laude, in Public Safety Administration in 1976. Mr. Schmidt then entered Pace University School of Law, where he was awarded a Juris Doctor degree in 1979.
On July 3, 1978, Mr. Schmidt was appointed as a County Investigator with the Bergen County Prosecutors Office. He continued law school at night, at the same time attending the Bergen County Police Academy, Detectives and Investigators Training Course conducted by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; graduating November 1, 1978 with the highest academic average in the class.
Schmidt was appointed as an Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor on June 22, 1980. He served in the trial, grand jury and juvenile sections and as the chief legal advisor and prosecutor for the Bergen County Narcotic Task Force.
In August 1984, Mr. Schmidt left the Prosecutorâs Office to establish a private law practice in Hackensack and later, Paramus. While in private practice, Schmidt served as Elmwood Park Municipal Prosecutor and Paramus Municipal Prosecutor. In 1990 he was appointed Judge of the Paramus Municipal Court where he served until his appointment as Bergen County Prosecutor.
In 1997, Governor Christine Todd Whitman nominated Schmidt to be Judge of the Palisades Interstate Park Police Court. It was during the confirmation process for that appointment that Governor Whitman, upon recommendation of the Bergen County senators, decided to nominate Schmidt to serve as Bergen County Prosecutor. In announcing his nomination Governor Whitman stated: âJudge Schmidt is a person of strong character and integrity who has an exemplary record as both a municipal judge and municipal prosecutor. I look forward to having him serve as the top law enforcement official in Bergen County.â
Schmidt was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate on March 10, 1997 and sworn to office as Bergen County Prosecutor that same day.
Schmidt is admitted to the bars of the Supreme C...Expand for more
ourt of New Jersey (1980); United States District Court (1980); United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1984); Supreme Court of the United States of America (1984); and, the United States Court of Military Appeals (1989).
Schmidt is a member of the New Jersey Prosecutors Association, National District Attorneyâs Association, Bergen County Bar Association, New Jersey Bar Association, Bergen County Police Chiefs Association, New Jersey Police Chiefs Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, New Jersey Narcotic Officers Association, and Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies (where he serves on the New Jersey Lawyers Steering Committee). He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6699, Paramus, N.J. He is a former member of the New Jersey State Policemanâs Benevolent Association, P.B.A. 221 of the Bergen County Prosecutorâs Office.
Schmidt currently serves as Deputy Judge Advocate for the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command, holding the rank of Commander (O-5). He is a Naval Academy Information Officer (Blue and Gold Officer) for the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, and serves as the Deputy Area Coordinator (Executive Officer) for USNA Blue & Gold Officer Program, Area 113, Northern New Jersey.
Revised 3/13/2002
ADDENDUM
On May 16, 2002, Schmidt retired as Bergen County Prosecutor when his successor was confirmed and sworn to office.
Schmidt is an independent businessman and consultant for law enforcement and homeland security. He was a consultant to the Port Authority Police Departmentâs Police Academy in Teaneck, New Jersey, where he provided instruction in New Jersey criminal law to police recruit classes following 9/11. He is an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickenson University where he teaches graduate school courses in Ethics and Leadership. He previously was an adjunct instructor at Caldwell College, teaching criminal law.
Schmidt owns White Buffalo Management, LLC, an artist management company for Country Music and Americana artists and songwriters with its main office in Paramus, NJ and an active presence in Nashville, TN. He is a professional voting member of the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, International Bluegrass Music Association and Americana Music Association. Schmidt is majority stockholder and Chairman of Paramus Lighting Co., Inc., New Jerseyâs largest independent retail lighting business.
Schmidt is a life member of the Navy League of the United States. He serves as Judge Advocate and Naval Academy Liaison for the North Jersey Counsel. He served a term as Vice President for Legislative Affairs for both the New Jersey Area and Liberty Region (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio & Delaware) of the Navy League of the United States. He is a life member of the Naval Order of the United States and serves as Commander of the New York Commandery and national Vice Commander General (At Large).
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