Richard J. Hughes
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| Richard Joseph Hughes | |
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| In office January 16, 1962 – January 20, 1970 |
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| Preceded by | Robert B. Meyner |
| Succeeded by | William T. Cahill |
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| In office 1973 – 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Pierre P. Garven |
| Succeeded by | Robert N. Wilentz |
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| Born | August 10, 1909 Florence Township, New Jersey |
| Died | December 7, 1992 (aged 83) Boca Raton, Florida |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Miriam McGrory Elizabeth Murphy |
| Religion | Catholic |
Richard Joseph Hughes (b. August 10, 1909, Florence Township, New Jersey – d. December 7, 1992, Boca Raton, Florida) was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 45th Governor of New Jersey, from 1962 to 1970 and as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973-1979. To date, Hughes is the only person to have served New Jersey as both Governor and Chief Justice.[1][2]
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[edit] Biography
Born in 1909 in Florence Township, New Jersey, Hughes was county court judge from 1948-1952 and a superior court judge from 1952-61. After serving as Governor of New Jersey, he served as the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973-1979, having been nominated for the post by his successor, William T. Cahill.[3] As Chief Justice, the court issued a unanimous ruling in the Karen Ann Quinlan, allowing an individual the right to refuse medical treatment and the right of a guardian' to exercise that right if the patient cannot.[2]
Hughes was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from New Jersey in 1948 (as an alternate), 1968 and 1972.
Many credit the fact that then-President Lyndon B. Johnson had a very close friendship with Hughes, as one reason that Atlantic City hosted the 1964 Democratic National Convention.
He died of congestive heart failure in 1992 in Boca Raton, Florida. He was interred at the St. Mary's Cemetery in Trenton, New Jersey.
The building in Trenton, New Jersey that houses the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety (headed by the Attorney General), the chambers and offices of the State Supreme Court, and the administrative headquarters of the statewide court system, was dedicated in 1982 as the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex, in his honor.[4]
Several of Hughes' children have become prominent in New Jersey law and politics. His stepson, Michael Murphy, was the Morris County prosecutor, and in 1997 was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor. One of his sons, John Hughes, is the longest serving magistrate in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and presides in Trenton. Another son, Brian M. Hughes, is the elected County Executive of Mercer County.
[edit] References
- ^ The United States Attorney's Office: District of New Jersey - A Rich History of Public Service, accessed July 18, 2006.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Joseph F. " Richard J. Hughes, Governor and Judge, Dies at 83", The New York Times, December 8, 1992. Accessed March 26, 2008. "Mr. Hughes was the only man to serve New Jersey as both Governor and Chief Justice.... In a landmark opinion in the case of Karen Ann Quinlan, the seven-member court unanimously asserted an individual's right to refuse medical treatment and a guardian's power to exercise that right in the event the patient is too ill to make his or her wishes known."
- ^ Schwaneberg, Robert. "A critical choice for Corzine: Naming chief justice - Poritz's mandatory retirement creates several scenarios for powerful post", The Star-Ledger, December 29, 2005. Accessed August 6, 2007. "In October 1973, Chief Justice Pierre Garven, a Republican, died after less than two months in the post. Then-Gov. William T. Cahill was a lame duck, having been dumped by the Republican Party in the primary. Democrats won both the governor's office and control of the Senate in the November election. Cahill nominated his Democratic predecessor, Richard J. Hughes, who had been a judge before becoming governor."
- ^ Web page of the Office of the Attorney General, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. Accessed November 22, 2006.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Biography of Richard J. Hughes (PDF), New Jersey State Library
- New Jersey Governor Richard Joseph Hughes, National Governor's Association
- Political Graveyard info for Richard J. Hughes
| Preceded by Robert B. Meyner |
Governor of New Jersey January 16, 1962–January 20, 1970 |
Succeeded by William T. Cahill |
| Preceded by Pierre P. Garven |
Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court 1973–1979 |
Succeeded by Robert N. Wilentz |
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