Richard J. Hughes
Encyclopedia
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. Hughes is the only person to have served New Jersey as both Governor and Chief Justice.
. He was a federal prosecutor
at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, county court judge from 1948–1952, and a superior court judge from 1952–1961.
After serving as Governor of New Jersey
from 1962 to 1970, 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
. When Hughes was Chief Justice, the court issued a unanimous ruling in the case of 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.
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
.
Hughes was one of three final candidates considered by Vice President and Presidential nominee Hubert Humphrey
to be the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1968.
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
.
(headed by the Attorney General), the courtroom, chambers and offices of the State Supreme Court
, the courtroom and several chambers and offices of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division
, and the administrative headquarters of the statewide court system, was dedicated in 1982 as the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex, in his honor.
Several of Hughes' children have become prominent in New Jersey law and politics. His stepson, Michael Murphy, is a prominent lobbyist and was previously the Morris County
Prosecutor. Murphy placed third in the 1997 Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey
. A son of Richard Hughes, John Hughes, was a Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court
for the District of New Jersey, presiding in Trenton, before retiring in February 2009. Another son, Brian M. Hughes
, is the elected County Executive
of Mercer County
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician, who served as the 45th 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...
from 1962 to 1970, and as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
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...
from 1973–1979. Hughes is the only person to have served New Jersey as both Governor and Chief Justice.
Biography
He was born on August 10, 1909 in Florence Township, New JerseyFlorence Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,746 people, 4,149 households, and 2,891 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,106.5 people per square mile . There were 4,391 housing units at an average density of 452.1 per square mile...
. He was a federal prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, county court judge from 1948–1952, and a superior court judge from 1952–1961.
After serving as 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...
from 1962 to 1970, 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
William T. Cahill
William Thomas Cahill was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 46th Governor of New Jersey, from 1970 to 1974, and who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S...
. When Hughes was Chief Justice, the court issued a unanimous ruling in the case of Karen Ann Quinlan
Karen Ann Quinlan
Karen Ann Quinlan was an important figure in the history of the right to die controversy in the United States....
, allowing an individual the right to refuse medical treatment and the right of a guardian to exercise that right if the patient cannot.
Hughes was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
from New Jersey in 1948
1948 Democratic National Convention
The 1948 Democratic National Convention was held at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 12 to July 14, and resulted in the nominations of incumbent Harry S Truman for President and U.S. Senator Alben W...
(as an alternate), 1968
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not seek a second term, the purpose of the convention was to...
and 1972
1972 Democratic National Convention
The 1972 Democratic National Convention was the presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party for the 1972 presidential election. It was held at Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida on July 10–13, 1972....
.
Many credit the fact that then-President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
had a very close friendship with Hughes, as one reason that Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
hosted the 1964 Democratic National Convention
1964 Democratic National Convention
The 1964 Democratic National Convention was the 1964 presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party. It took place at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey from August 24 to 27, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson -- who had been Vice President under...
.
Hughes was one of three final candidates considered by Vice President and Presidential nominee Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
to be the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1968.
He died of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
in 1992 in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
. He was interred at the St. Mary's Cemetery in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
.
Legacy
The building in Trenton, New Jersey that houses the New Jersey Department of Law and Public SafetyNew Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety
The New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of New Jersey that focuses on protection of the lives and property of New Jersey residents and visitors. The department operates under the supervision of the New Jersey Attorney General...
(headed by the Attorney General), the courtroom, chambers and offices of the State Supreme Court
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...
, the courtroom and several chambers and offices of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division
New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division
The New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division is the appellate court in New Jersey.The Appellate Division hears appeals from the Law and Chancery Divisions of the New Jersey Superior Court, the Tax Court, and final decisions of State administrative agencies...
, and the administrative headquarters of the statewide court system, was dedicated in 1982 as the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex, in his honor.
Several of Hughes' children have become prominent in New Jersey law and politics. His stepson, Michael Murphy, is a prominent lobbyist and was previously the Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
Prosecutor. Murphy placed third in the 1997 Democratic primary for 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...
. A son of Richard Hughes, John Hughes, was a Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
for the District of New Jersey, presiding in Trenton, before retiring in February 2009. Another son, Brian M. Hughes
Brian M. Hughes
Brian M. Hughes is the County Executive for Mercer County and a former member of the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders.He was elected in November 2003, becoming the first Democrat to hold the post of the highest elected official in the county in 24 years....
, is the elected County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
.
External links
- Biography of Richard J. Hughes (PDF), New Jersey State LibraryNew Jersey State LibraryThe New Jersey State Library, based in Trenton, New Jersey, was established in 1796 to serve the information needs of New Jersey's Governor, Legislature and courts. The State Library is also responsible to assist in the provision of library and information services to all New Jersey...
- New Jersey Governor Richard Joseph Hughes, National Governor's Association
- Political Graveyard info for Richard J. Hughes