Richard Joseph Hughes | |
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Hughes in 1962
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45th Governor of New Jersey | |
In office January 16, 1962 – January 20, 1970 |
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Preceded by | Robert B. Meyner |
Succeeded by | William T. Cahill |
Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court | |
In office 1973–1979 |
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Preceded by | Pierre P. Garven |
Succeeded by | Robert N. Wilentz |
Personal details | |
Born |
Florence Township, New Jersey |
August 10, 1909
Died | December 7, 1992 Boca Raton, Florida |
(aged 83)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Miriam McGrory Elizabeth Murphy |
Richard Joseph Hughes (August 10, 1909 – December 7, 1992) 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 born into an Irish-American family on August 10, 1909, in Florence Township, New Jersey. Hughes graduated from St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia and the New Jersey Law School, now Rutgers School of Law–Newark. He was a member of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. 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 Karen Ann Quinlan case, 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.