James Zazzali | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of theSupreme Court of New Jersey | |
| In office October 26, 2006 – June 17, 2007 | |
| Appointed by | Christine Todd Whitman |
| Preceded by | Daniel Joseph O'Hern |
| Succeeded by | Stuart Rabner |
| Associate Justice of theSupreme Court of New Jersey | |
| In office May 25, 2000 – October 26, 2006 | |
| Attorney General of New Jersey | |
| In office March 26, 1981 – January 19, 1982 | |
| Governor | Brendan Byrne |
| Preceded by | John J. Degnan |
| Succeeded by | Irwin I. Kimmelman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1937-06-17)June 17, 1937 (age 88) |
| Spouse | Eileen Fitzsimmons |
| Education | Georgetown University |
James Ronald Zazzali (born June 17, 1937) is an American jurist who served asChief Justice of theNew Jersey Supreme Court from October 26, 2006,[1] until his retirement on June 17, 2007. He previously served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court from June 14, 2000.
Zazzali was born inNewark, New Jersey, on June 17, 1937, of Italian descent. He studied atSeton Hall Preparatory School, and later graduated with aB.S. fromGeorgetown College in 1958 and was awarded aJ.D. fromGeorgetown University Law Center. After graduation, he was admitted into the bars ofNew Jersey,New York, and theDistrict of Columbia.[2]
Zazzali served as the chief of the Appeals Division in the Office of theEssex CountyProsecutor. He also served as the general counsel to theNew Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and was a receiver forBloomfield College. He went on to become the chairman of theNew Jersey State Commission of Investigation, the vice-chairman of the Disciplinary Review Board, and served asNew Jersey Attorney General from 1981 to 1982. He was also appointed as special master for county jails in Essex,Monmouth, andBergen counties. He also served on delegations to certainUnited Nations conferences.
Zazzali was nominated by GovernorChristine 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 JusticeDeborah T. Poritz. In September 2006, with Poritz nearing mandatory retirement age,GovernorJon Corzine nominated Zazzali for promotion to chief justice.[3]
Zazzali was sworn in as Chief Justice on October 26, 2006. He left the court upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 on June 17, 2007, and was replaced by then-Attorney GeneralStuart Rabner.
Zazzali is married to Eileen Fitzsimmons and has five children: Mara; James, Jr., Robert; Courtney; and Kevin.[4] He has been a resident ofRumson, New Jersey.[5]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Attorney General of New Jersey 1981 – 1982 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Justice of theNew Jersey Supreme Court 2006 – 2007 | Succeeded by |
