James R. Zazzali
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James R. Zazzali is the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, having been confirmed by the New Jersey Senate on October 23, 2006 and sworn in on October 26.[1] The chief justice previously served as an associate justice on the same court from June 14, 2000. In anticipation of the retirement of Deborah T. Poritz as Chief Justice, Governor Jon Corzine nominated Zazzali for promotion.[2]
[edit] Biography
Zazzali was born in Newark, New Jersey on June 17, 1937. He studied at Seton Hall Preparatory School, and later graduated with a B.S. from Georgetown College in 1958 and was awarded a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. After graduation, he was admitted into the bars of New Jersey, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Zazzali served as the Chief of the Appeals Division in the Office of the Essex County Prosecutor. He also served as the General Counsel to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and was a receiver for Bloomfield College. He went on to become the Chairman of the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation, the Vice-Chairman of the Disciplinary Review Board, and served as New Jersey Attorney General from 1981-1982. He was also appointed as Special Master for county jails in Essex, Monmouth, and Bergen counties. He also served on delegations to certain United Nations conferences.
Zazzali was nominated by Governor Christine Todd Whitman for the position of justice to the NJ Supreme Court on May 18, 2000, and was confirmed on May 25, 2000. He was officially sworn into the position by then-Chief Justice Poritz. Zazzali, in turn, replaced Poritz as Chief Justice on October 26, 2006, following Poritz's retirement. Zazzali will be eligible to serve in his new position for less than eight months, as he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 less than eight months after his promotion to Chief Justice.
Zazzali is married to Eileen Fitzsimmons and have five children, named Mara, James Jr., Robert, Courtney, and Kevin.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ New Chief Justice Assumes Leadership of Court Today, press release dated October 26, 2006
- ^ Governor Nominates Supreme Court Justice Zazzali to Serve as Chief Justice and Appellate Judge Hoens to Serve as Associate Justice, press release dated September 21, 2006
- ^ Justice James R. Zazzali, accessed October 10, 2006
[edit] External links
| Preceded by John J. Degnan |
Attorney General of New Jersey 1981 – 1982 |
Succeeded by Irwin I. Kimmelman |
| Preceded by Deborah T. Poritz |
Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court 2006 – present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
| Attorneys General of New Jersey (Since 1947 State Constitution) |  |
|---|---|
| Parsons • Richman • Furman • Sills • Kugler • Hyland • Degnan • Zazzali • Kimmelman • Edwards • Perretti • Del Tufo • Poritz • Verniero • Farmer • Samson • Harvey • Farber • Rabner |
