Peter Verniero
Encyclopedia
Peter Verniero is a former Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
and a former New Jersey Attorney General
. He presently is an attorney in private practice in New Jersey
in 1981, where he was Phi Beta Kappa. He received a J.D.
degree from Duke University School of Law
in 1984.
Verniero was an attorney in private practice and active in Republican politics, when he was appointed Chief Counsel to the Governor by Governor of New Jersey
Christine Todd Whitman
in 1994. In this position he oversaw state authorities, legislation, executive orders, pardons, and judicial nominations for Whitman. In 1995, Verniero became Whitman's Chief of Staff.
In 1996, Whitman named Veniero as the Attorney General of New Jersey. Verniero was sworn in to the position on July 10, 1996. In this position, he oversaw state criminal justice, legal affairs, gaming enforcement, consumer affairs, highway safety, the state police and professional regulation. As the attorney general serves a term concurrent to that of the governor, Whitman renominated Verniero in January 1998 and he was confirmed a second time by the State Senate on January 20, 1998.
In 1999, Whitman appointed Verniero as a state Supreme Court justice, a nomination that was considered controversial given Verniero's young age (he was 39 at the time of his nomination) and his lack of trial experience. In 2001, Verniero came under attack for statements he made to the New Jersey Senate
during his confirmation hearings regarding racial profiling by the New Jersey State Police
. Senators had said Verniero was not completely forthcoming regarding racial profiling during his tenure as attorney general, an accusation he strongly denied. An attempt to impeach Verniero failed in the New Jersey General Assembly
.
Verniero previously had been named to a seven year term as a Supreme Court justice, expiring in 2006. Gov. James McGreevey had said he would not reappoint Verniero if he was governor in 2006. In 2004, Verniero announced his decision to step down as a justice for financial reasons and to avoid a fight over any potential reappointment.
Verniero married Lisa Gaede and has two daughters: Jennifer and Madeline.
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
and a former New Jersey Attorney General
New Jersey Attorney General
The Attorney General of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state. The office is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and term limited...
. He presently is an attorney in private practice in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Biography
Verniero graduated summa cum laude from Drew UniversityDrew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
in 1981, where he was Phi Beta Kappa. He received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Duke University School of Law
Duke University School of Law
The Duke University School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States. One of Duke's 10 schools and colleges, the School of Law began as the Trinity College School of Law in 1868. In 1924, following the renaming of Trinity...
in 1984.
Verniero was an attorney in private practice and active in Republican politics, when he was appointed Chief Counsel to the Governor by Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
in 1994. In this position he oversaw state authorities, legislation, executive orders, pardons, and judicial nominations for Whitman. In 1995, Verniero became Whitman's Chief of Staff.
In 1996, Whitman named Veniero as the Attorney General of New Jersey. Verniero was sworn in to the position on July 10, 1996. In this position, he oversaw state criminal justice, legal affairs, gaming enforcement, consumer affairs, highway safety, the state police and professional regulation. As the attorney general serves a term concurrent to that of the governor, Whitman renominated Verniero in January 1998 and he was confirmed a second time by the State Senate on January 20, 1998.
In 1999, Whitman appointed Verniero as a state Supreme Court justice, a nomination that was considered controversial given Verniero's young age (he was 39 at the time of his nomination) and his lack of trial experience. In 2001, Verniero came under attack for statements he made to 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...
during his confirmation hearings regarding racial profiling by the New Jersey State Police
New Jersey State Police
The New Jersey State Police is the state police force for the state of New Jersey. It is a general-powers police agency with state wide jurisdiction when requested by the Governor, designated by Troop Sectors.-History:...
. Senators had said Verniero was not completely forthcoming regarding racial profiling during his tenure as attorney general, an accusation he strongly denied. An attempt to impeach Verniero failed in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
.
Verniero previously had been named to a seven year term as a Supreme Court justice, expiring in 2006. Gov. James McGreevey had said he would not reappoint Verniero if he was governor in 2006. In 2004, Verniero announced his decision to step down as a justice for financial reasons and to avoid a fight over any potential reappointment.
Verniero married Lisa Gaede and has two daughters: Jennifer and Madeline.