Arthur J. Sills
Encyclopedia
Arthur J. Sills was the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1962 to 1970.
Sills was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1917, and his family moved to Perth Amboy, New Jersey
in 1921. He contracted polio when he was four years old and later traveled to Warm Springs, Georgia
for treatment. There he befriended Franklin D. Roosevelt
, who was receiving treatment for his paralytic illness
.
in 1934. He received a B.A.
degree from Rutgers University
in 1938 and a law degree at Harvard Law School
in 1941. He joined the law firm of David T. Wilentz
, former Attorney General of New Jersey, from 1941 to 1950. From 1950 to 1962, he was a partner in the Perth Amboy firm of Wilentz, Goldman, Spitzer & Sills.
Sills was appointed by Governor Richard J. Hughes
as Attorney General of New Jersey. He was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate
and sworn in on January 16, 1962, the day of Hughes's inauguration.
As Attorney General in the two Hughes administrations, Sills championed civil rights and strong gun control legislation. He was nonetheless criticized by civil rights groups for defending a warrantless search for stolen guns by 300 heavily armed New Jersey State Police and National Guardsmen during the 1967 Plainfield riots
. He also came under fire from the American Civil Liberties Union
for writing a memorandum in the wake of the 1967 Newark riots
encouraging state police to compile detailed dossiers on people taking part in demonstrations.
After leaving office, Sills founded his own firm based in Newark, New Jersey
, Sills, Beck, Cummis, Radin, Tischman & Zuckerman (now known as Sills Cummis & Gross
). He represented James Florio
during the recount for the 1981 gubernatorial election. In 1982 he died of a stroke at the age of 65.
Sills was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1917, and his family moved to Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Perth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The City of Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 50,814. Perth Amboy is known as the "City by the Bay", referring to Raritan Bay.-Name:The Lenape...
in 1921. He contracted polio when he was four years old and later traveled to Warm Springs, Georgia
Warm Springs, Georgia
Warm Springs is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 478 at the 2010 census.-History:Warm Springs first came to prominence in the 19th century as a spa town, due to its mineral springs which flow constantly at nearly 32 °C...
for treatment. There he befriended Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, who was receiving treatment for his paralytic illness
Franklin D. Roosevelt's paralytic illness
Franklin D. Roosevelt's paralytic illness began in 1921 at age 39, when Roosevelt got a fever after exercising heavily at a vacation in Canada. While his bout with illness was well known during his terms as President of the United States, the extent of his paralysis was kept from public view. After...
.
Biography
Sills graduated from Perth Amboy High SchoolPerth Amboy High School
Perth Amboy High School is a four-year public high school in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, United States. PAHS, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Perth Amboy Public Schools...
in 1934. He received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in 1938 and a law degree at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1941. He joined the law firm of David T. Wilentz
David T. Wilentz
David Theodore Wilentz was the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1934 to 1944. In 1935 he successfully prosecuted Bruno Hauptmann in the Lindbergh kidnapping trial...
, former Attorney General of New Jersey, from 1941 to 1950. From 1950 to 1962, he was a partner in the Perth Amboy firm of Wilentz, Goldman, Spitzer & Sills.
Sills was appointed by Governor Richard J. Hughes
Richard J. Hughes
Richard Joseph Hughes 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...
as Attorney General of New Jersey. He was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
and sworn in on January 16, 1962, the day of Hughes's inauguration.
As Attorney General in the two Hughes administrations, Sills championed civil rights and strong gun control legislation. He was nonetheless criticized by civil rights groups for defending a warrantless search for stolen guns by 300 heavily armed New Jersey State Police and National Guardsmen during the 1967 Plainfield riots
1967 Plainfield riots
The Plainfield Riots were a series of racially-charged violent disturbances that occurred in Plainfield, New Jersey during the summer of 1967, which mirrored the 1967 Newark riots in nearby Newark, New Jersey.-Background:...
. He also came under fire from the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
for writing a memorandum in the wake of the 1967 Newark riots
1967 Newark riots
The 1967 Newark riots were a major civil disturbance that occurred in the city of Newark, New Jersey between July 12 and July 17, 1967. The six days of rioting, looting, and destruction left 26 dead and hundreds injured.-Social unrest:...
encouraging state police to compile detailed dossiers on people taking part in demonstrations.
After leaving office, Sills founded his own firm based in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Sills, Beck, Cummis, Radin, Tischman & Zuckerman (now known as Sills Cummis & Gross
Sills Cummis & Gross
Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. is a full-service corporate law firm with offices in New Jersey and New York...
). He represented James Florio
James Florio
James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...
during the recount for the 1981 gubernatorial election. In 1982 he died of a stroke at the age of 65.