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Bruce M. Plaxen – 80th President of the American Association for Justice
Bruce Plaxen made history as the first Maryland bar attorney elected President of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). He now leads the nation’s largest trial lawyer organization, which represents thousands of advocates committed to protecting civil justice. His presidency follows more than four decades of service to injury victims and the trial bar.
Leadership vision
Bruce is focused on protecting the right to trial by jury and strengthening the civil justice system nationwide. He has long warned that civil justice is under attack from efforts to limit victims’ rights and restrict jury trials. In his role as AAJ President, he is continuing to call for vigilance and unity among trial lawyers to safeguard injury victims’ access to the courts. Bruce aims to inspire trial lawyers to participate in shaping policy and legislation that protects the rights of injured individuals.
About Bruce Plaxen
Bruce is the founding partner of Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., with more than 40 years of experience in personal injury litigation. As the past President of the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ), he served on the Board of Governors starting in 1993. Bruce is a longtime leader within AAJ, where he started serving on the Board of Governors in 2003, and has held nearly every officer role prior to taking office as President.
He is a recipient of multiple national and state honors, including MAJ’s President’s Award (three-time honoree), Maryland Trial Lawyer of the Year (2009), AAJ Distinguished Service Award, Joe Tonahill Award, Evergreen Award, and the Wiedemann Wysocki Citation of Excellence (four-time recipient). He has also been named one of The Daily Record’s Influential Marylanders in 2025.
Bruce is widely recognized for his mentorship of younger attorneys and commitment to strengthening the plaintiff’s bar nationwide. He has spearheaded critical pro bono efforts, including the landmark Trial Lawyers Care program that provided free representation to 9/11 victims’ families.
Monthly president’s page newsletters
Each month, Bruce publishes a newsletter in AAJ’s Trial Magazine. You can read his latest editions and archived newsletters below.
August 2025 – Reflections on Leadership and Legacy
In his first President’s Page column for Trial magazine, Bruce reflected on his journey from launching a personal injury practice with a used typewriter to leading AAJ. He highlighted the importance of mentorship, collective action, and defending the rule of law.
- Read the full column from the August issue of Trial magazine
In the news
Commitment to justice and clients
While serving as AAJ President, Bruce continues to represent clients in personal injury and consumer protection cases. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in Maryland, contact Plaxen Adler Muncy for a consultation with one of our dedicated personal injury lawyers.
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