Michael R. Bateman has been practicing law since 1975. He graduated from Penn State University receiving a B.A. in Political Science. He received his law degree from New England Law/Boston. Mr. Bateman has been an adjunct professor at both Ocean County College and Rutgers University, teaching courses in Law and Society, Criminology, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, and Mediation for Attorneys. Mr. Bateman served as Municipal Court Judge for the Borough of South Toms River from 2011-2015. He has also served as Judge for the Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Hammonton, NJ, adjudicating confinement status of patients suffering from mental illness. His many Township of Lakewood Appointments have included Foreclosure Attorney, Lakewood Airport Advisory Committee Attorney, Designated Public Defender, “Let’s Talk” Moderator, and Mediation Counsel. Mr. Bateman's Court Appointments include Condemnation Commissioner, Mediator Guardian and Designated Counsel for Office of Public Defender, Appellate Division. Mr. Bateman’s Ocean County Appointments have included District IIIA Ethics Committee as both a Member and/or Chair from 2000-2004 and District IIIA Fee Arbitration Committee in 2010. Mr. Bateman has deep roots in Ocean County, including being a member of the Lakewood High School, 1967 State Championship Basketball Team.