John J. Degnan

John J. Degnan (born October 6, 1944, West Orange, New Jersey, USA) was the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1978 until 1981. He is currently vice chairman and chief operating officer of The Chubb Corporation.

Biography

Degnan attended Our Lady of Lourdes Grammar School in West Orange and Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey. He graduated from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 1966 and then attended Harvard Law School, receiving his J.D. degree in 1969.[1]

From 1969 to 1971, Degnan served as law secretary to John J. Francis, associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. He then joined the Newark law firm of Clapp & Eisenberg from 1971 to 1974.[1]

Degnan was selected by New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne as assistant counsel in November 1974. He later served as Governor Byrne's executive secretary from March 1976 to March 1977, when he became special counsel to the Governor. After Byrne was elected to a second term, he announced Degnan's appointment as Attorney General. His nomination was confirmed in January 1978, and at 33 he was among the youngest ever to serve as Attorney General.[1]

In 1981, Degnan resigned his position as Attorney General to run in the Democratic primary for Governor. The crowded field of 13 Democratic candidates included U.S. Representative James Florio, Newark Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson, New Jersey Senate President Joseph P. Merlino, U.S. Representative Robert A. Roe, and Jersey City Mayor Thomas F. X. Smith. Degnan was seen as Byrne's hand-picked successor and received the Governor's endorsement. But in the primary election Degnan received only 11 percent of the vote, finishing in fifth place behind Florio (26 percent), Roe (16 percent), Gibson (16 percent), and Merlino (11 percent).[2]

After the election Degnan joined the firm of Shanley & Fisher as a senior partner. In 1990 he joined Chubb & Son, a subsidiary of Chubb Corp., as senior vice president and general counsel. He was elected president of Chubb Corp. in 1996 and also became president of Chubb & Son in 1998. In 2002 he became vice chairman and chief administrative officer of Chubb Corp. He added the titles of chief ethics and legal compliance officer in 2005. In June 2008 was promoted to vice chairman and chief operating officer of Chubb Corp.[3]

Degnan resides with his wife Mary in Chester, New Jersey.[4]

Legal offices
Preceded by
William F. Hyland		 Attorney General of New Jersey
1977 – 1981		 Succeeded by
James R. Zazzali

References

  1. ^ a b c Official bio, Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey. Accessed June 26, 2008.
  2. ^ "Florio and Kean Agree Taxes Are Key Issue". The New York Times, June 4, 1981. Accessed June 26, 2008.
  3. ^ Official bio, Chubb Corp. Accessed June 26, 2008.
  4. ^ John J. Degnan, Saint Vincent College Alumni Success Stories. Accessed June 26, 2008.
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 • Milgram • Dow