Seton Hall Law Student James Baber Saves 72-Year-Old Woman

On Thursday, October 18, 2012, James Baber's heroism saved an elderly woman; who most likely would have been killed by the oncoming PATH train. According to The Jersey Journal article, “Bayonne resident jumped onto tracks to save woman who had fallen at Journal Square PATH Station,” James was heading to law school in Newark when he saw a “woman from the overhead walkway above the platform” fall onto the tracks at the Journal Square station. The 72-year-old woman inadvertently tripped before landing on the tracks.

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The ABA Journal column, “Law Student Saves Woman Who Fell in Path of Approaching Train,” reported that the 24-year-old law student courageously jumped onto the train tracks and pulled the woman away before the approaching train pulled into the station. The ABA Journal quoted James when he said, “There was a man waving his arms to signal the train to stop, but no one else was going to be able to get there in time.”

Above The Law editorial, “Law Student of the Day: A Good Samaritan Hero,” also noted that James reacted by saving the woman's life while others watched. The author of the piece, Elie Mystal, sarcastically criticizes the “man waving his arms to signal the train to stop.” He stated, “Instead of wasting your arm energy, you should have just tried to send the conductor a text message. Then you could have said to all your friends, ‘I won't lift a finger to help a woman about to be run over by a train, but I'll lift a thumb!'”

The ABA Journal pointed out that initial news reports didn't know who assisted the woman off the train tracks. However, The Jersey Journal stated that Clora Morrison, who works with James at the Hudson County law office, contacted the Journal to tell them about James valiant rescue. Clora told The Jersey Journal, “I felt that he should get the recognition that he deserves. The whole incident reminded me of my mother, who takes the public transportation all the time.”

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According to the ABA Journal editorial, the unidentified woman that James saved was admitted to the hospital, where she is reportedly in good condition. The Jersey Journal mentioned that the authorities were unable to determine why the unidentified woman fell onto the train tracks. The Jersey Journal continued to say that the woman fell onto the train tracks at approximately 6:10 P.M. on Thursday.

According to The Jersey Journal, James is a St. Peter's Prep alumnus and is currently enrolled at Seton Hall University Law School. When the brave student isn't attending classes, he works at the Hudson County law department, a position he has held since May 2012. Above The Law editorial stated that James is the son of Mark Baber, a Hudson County Superior Court Judge.

The law student didn't hesitate once he saw the woman fall onto the train tracks. James told The Jersey Journal, “It's not like there was much of a thought process.” Indeed, if James did hesitate and if there was a thought process, would the unidentified woman be alive or in good condition at the hospital? The Jersey Journal noted that the law student hasn't seen the woman since he rescued her from the tracks, but James whishes her a swift recovery.

Mystal, who wrote the Above The Law piece, made an excellent point when he stated, “Would you jump in front of an oncoming train to save somebody else?” The fact is that most individuals would have not reacted the way James did on October 18. He risked his own life while others watched him jump onto Track 3 to save a woman he didn't know. The law student saved someone's grandmother. He is truly a Good Samaritan and a hero, both of which are in short supply in today's world.

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