GOVERNOR CORZINE ISSUES PROCLAMATION HONORINGSTANLEY VAN NESS

TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine issued the following proclamation honoring the life of Stanley Van Ness, the state’s first public advocate.

The full text of the proclamation is below.

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey mourns the passing of Stanley C. Van Ness, New Jersey’s first Public Advocate, a Chief Counsel to the Governor, and an accomplished lawyer, who had a distinguished record of public service to the citizens of New Jersey; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Van Ness was born in Somerville, New Jersey, in 1934 and received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Rutgers University, and his law degree, also cum laude, from Rutgers University School of Law in 1963; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Van Ness served five years in the Air Force, reaching the rank of Captain; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Van Ness also served as an Assistant United States Attorney and as an Assistant Counsel to the Governor of New Jersey, before becoming Chief Counsel to Governor Richard J. Hughes; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Van Ness was instrumental in founding the Office of Public Defender in 1969 and served as New Jersey’s first Public Advocate, a position he held with distinction for eight years; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Van Ness had a distinguished career in academia,  teaching law as an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers Law School, as a lecturer at the Carnegie Mellon Series University of Pittsburgh Law School, and as a Distinguished Visiting Professor, holding the Richard J. Hughes Chair of Constitutional and Public Law at Seton Hall University Law School; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Van Ness maintained an active legal practice with Herbert, Van Ness, Cayci & Goodell, a Princeton law firm, in more recent years; and      

            WHERAS, Mr. Van Ness maintained the highest standards of the legal profession, while practicing law in many different capacities in public life and in private practice, always serving with honor and dedication;

            NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby salute and honor the memory of Stanley C. Van Ness and commend his many years of extraordinary service to community, state and country, and further, do express the gratitude of a grateful state for the legacy of his wisdom and compassion, which will continue to guide us as we strive, as he did, to make this state and this world a better place.

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