John Jay Hoffman

John Hoffman
Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 2. 2024
Appointed byPhil Murphy
Preceded byLee Solomon
Attorney General of New Jersey
Acting
In office
June 10, 2013 – March 14, 2016
GovernorChris Christie
Preceded byJeffrey Chiesa
Succeeded byRobert Lougy (acting)
Personal details
Born (1965-08-23) August 23, 1965 (age 59)
Political partyIndependent
Spouse
Mary Jude Cox
​
(m. 2003)​
EducationColgate University (BA)
Duke University (JD)

John Hoffman (born August 23, 1965) is an American lawyer who has served as a justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey since 2024. He previously served as the acting attorney general of New Jersey from 2013 to 2016.[1][2] He served from 2013 to 2016, longer than any other acting attorney general in the state's history.[3]

Background

Hoffman was born August 23, 1965, to Judith and John A. Hoffman.[citation needed] Raised in Edison, New Jersey,[4] Hoffman graduated from J. P. Stevens High School in 1983[5] He graduated from Colgate University before earning his Juris Doctor degree at Duke University. Hoffman married Mary Jude Cox December 6, 2003. Their fathers, Stuart T. Cox and John A. Hoffman, worked together as partners of the law firm Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey.[6]

His wife is an ophthalmologist and a glaucoma specialist.[7]

He has been a resident of the Marlton section of Evesham Township, New Jersey.[8]

Tenure as acting attorney general

He ascended to the position when Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa resigned on June 6, 2013, after Governor Chris Christie announced that he would appoint Chiesa to succeed recently deceased United States Senator Frank Lautenberg.[9]

Hoffman resigned as acting attorney general in March 2016 and became the general counsel of Rutgers University.[10]

New Jersey Supreme Court

On June 10, 2024, Hoffman was nominated as an associate justice to the New Jersey Supreme Court by Governor Phil Murphy, to succeed Lee Solomon upon Solomon's mandatory retirement from the court.[11]

After his nomination was announced, he gained support from Senators Brian P. Stack, Jon Bramnick (R), Vin Gopal, Joseph Lagana, and Bob Smith. He also has the support of Senators Nicholas Scutari, John Burzichelli, Patrick Diegnan, Gordon M. Johnson, Raj Mukherji, Declan O'Scanlon (R), Vincent J. Polistina (R), and Doug Steinhardt (R). As of June 2024, after winning the additional support of Senators Paul Sarlo and Linda Greenstein, Hoffman has enough support to advance through the Senate Judiciary Committee.[12] However, under the New Jersey Senate's unwritten rule of senatorial courtesy, Hoffman also needs the support of his home county (Burlington County) senators Troy Singleton (D) (also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee) and Latham Tiver (R).[12] On August 14, 2024, the New Jersey Globe confirmed that Tiver will vote in support of Hoffman.[13] On September 26, 2024, Hoffman was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.[14] On September 30, 2024, Hoffman was unanimously confirmed by the New Jersey Senate.[15][16] He was sworn in on October 2, 2024.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Biography John Jay Hoffman Acting Attorney General". State of New Jersey. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  2. ^ "Christie names John Hoffman as acting attorney general". PressOfAtlanticCity.com. Associated Press. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  3. ^ "Bridge scandal, Christie's 2016 ambitions leave job of N.J. attorney general in limbo". NJ.com. December 7, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  4. ^ Bauwens, Erica. "South Jersey Justice", South Jersey Magazine, August 2013. Accessed August 28, 2024. "I was raised in Edison, and when we were deciding where we could live, the chance to come back to Jersey was something I couldn’t turn down."
  5. ^ "Welcoming the 2018 Hall of Honor Inductees - John Jay Hoffman, Class of 1983", The John P. Stevens Hawkeye, April 26, 2018. Accessed August 28, 2024. "Upon graduating from John P. Stevens High School in 1983, John Jay Hoffman has explored the world of law at Colgate University, where he earned his B.A. as a History major."
  6. ^ "Weddings/Celebrations; Mary Jude Cox, John Hoffman", The New York Times December 7, 2003. Accessed August 28, 2024
  7. ^ Wildstein, David. "Murphy to nominate John Hoffman to N.J. Supreme Court", New Jersey Globe, June 8, 2024. Accessed August 28, 2024. "His wife, Mary Jude Cox, is an ophthalmologist and a glaucoma specialist at the Willis Eye Hospital in Philadelphia."
  8. ^ Biographies, South Jersey Regional Anti-Violence Summit, November 14, 2014. Accessed August 28, 2024. "A resident of the Marlton section of Evesham Township, Hoffman previously served as Director of the Division of Investigations for the State Comptroller’s Office."
  9. ^ Santora, Marc; and Zernike, Kate. "Attorney General of New Jersey Named as Interim Senator", The New York Times, June 6, 2013. Accessed June 6, 2013.
  10. ^ S.P. Sullivan, John Hoffman stepping down as N.J. attorney general, NJ.com, February 4, 2016
  11. ^ Ebert, Alex, Former Chris Christie Attorney General Tapped for NJ Justice, Bloomberg Law, June 10, 2024
  12. ^ a b Wildstein, David (June 19, 2024). "Hoffman wins support of Sarlo, Greenstein". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Wildstein, David (August 14, 2024). "Tiver signs off on Hoffman, paving the way for Supreme Court confirmation next month". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Senate panel OKs former state attorney general to become Supreme Court justice, New Jersey Monitor, Sept. 26, 2024
  15. ^ Blackburn, Zach (September 30, 2024). "Hoffman ascends to top court after Senate confirmation". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  16. ^ Biryukov, Nikita; September 30, New Jersey Monitor (September 30, 2024). "Former Attorney General John Hoffman wins confirmation to New Jersey Supreme Court • New Jersey Monitor". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved October 1, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Sobko, Katie (October 3, 2024). "John Jay Hoffman is New Jersey's newest Supreme Court justice after Trenton swearing-in". northjersey.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of New Jersey
Acting
2013–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey
2024–present 		Incumbent
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