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John Hoffman (New Jersey)
2024 - Present
2031
0
John J. Hoffman is a judge of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Hoffman assumed office on October 2, 2024. Hoffman's current term ends on June 10, 2031.
Hoffman first became a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court through an appointment. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) first appointed Hoffman to the court in 2024 to the seat vacated by Lee A. Solomon. To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Hoffman is the former New Jersey Attorney General. He was first appointed to the position in June 2013 by Governor Chris Christie to replace Jeff Chiesa (R), who was appointed to the U.S. Senate.[1][2]
Christie did not put Hoffman's name up for confirmation before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would have been a necessary step to make him a permanent officeholder. On February 4, 2016, Hoffman announced that he would resign to take a job as the senior vice president and general counsel at Rutgers University. He took his new post on March 14, 2016.[3][4][5]
Prior to his appointment as New Jersey Attorney General, Hoffman served as executive assistant attorney general under former New Jersey Attorney General Jeff Chiesa (R). Additionally, he has served as director of the Division of Investigations for the New Jersey Comptroller’s Office, as an assistant United States attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and as a trial attorney for the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. He has also worked as an attorney in private practice. While he was an assistant U.S. attorney, he focused on economic and white collar criminal prosecutions.[6][1][7]
Education
Political career
New Jersey Supreme Court (2024-present)
Hoffman was first appointed to the New Jersey Supreme Court on June 10, 2024. He was sworn into office on October 2, 2024, succeeding Lee A. Solomon.
New Jersey attorney general (2013-2016)
Hoffman began his term as attorney general in June 2013. He was named as acting attorney general to replace Jeff Chiesa (R).[1]
Appointments
2024
Governor Phil Murphy (D) appointed John Jay Hoffman to the New Jersey Supreme Court. Hoffman replaced justice Lee A. Solomon, who retired on August 17, 2024, due to reaching New Jersey's mandatory retirement age. Hoffman is Gov. Murphy's fifth nominee to the seven-member supreme court.
In New Jersey, state supreme court justices are selected through direct gubernatorial appointment. Justices are appointed directly by the governor without the use of a nominating commission.[8] There are five states that use this selection method. To read more about the gubernatorial appointment of judges, click here.
Vacancies on the court are filled through gubernatorial appointment. The governor's nominee must be confirmed by the state Senate.[9]
New Jersey Attorney General (2013-2016)
Hoffman was appointed as acting New Jersey attorney general by Governor Chris Christie (R) on June 7, 2013. Christie said, “People should rest assured that acting Attorney General Hoffman is on the job, has been designated, and is operating as we speak today leading the department of law and public safety.”[1]
New Jersey Supreme Court (2024-present)
Phil Murphy (D) appointed Hoffman to the New Jersey Supreme Court on June 10, 2024 to replace Lee A. Solomon (Nonpartisan).
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Hoffman lives in Marlton, N.J.[4]
State supreme court judicial selection in New Jersey
- See also: Judicial selection in New Jersey
The seven justices of the New Jersey Supreme Court are selected by gubernatorial appointment. The governor's nominee must be confirmed by the New Jersey state Senate.[10][11]
Justices serve an initial term of seven years after appointment. If renominated by the governor and confirmed for reappointment by the Senate, they may serve on the court until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 70.[10][11]
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve on the supreme court, a person must have been admitted to practice law in New Jersey for at least 10 years.[11]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court is selected by gubernatorial appointment. The position of chief justice is a specific seat on the court rather than a temporary leadership position.[11]
Vacancies
Vacancies on the court are filled through gubernatorial appointment. The governor's nominee must be confirmed by the state Senate.[9]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
| New Jersey | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Trentonian, "John Hoffman appointed acting NJ attorney general," June 10, 2013
- ↑ MyCentralJersey.com, "NJ attorney general to resign, work for Rutgers," February 4, 2016
- ↑ NorthJersey.com, "Christie names John Hoffman acting attorney general," June 10, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 MyCentralJersey.com, "NJ attorney general to resign, work for Rutgers," February 4, 2016
- ↑ Rutgers Today, "Acting state Attorney General John J. Hoffman to lead Rutgers' legal team as general counsel," February 4, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Office of the Attorney General, "Biography - John Jay Hoffman," accessed August 9, 2013
- ↑ NJToday.net, "Hoffman tabbed as acting attorney general," June 10, 2013
- ↑ Note: In New Hampshire, a judicial selection commission has been established by executive order. The commission's recommendations are not binding.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 New Jersey Legislature, "New Jersey State Constitution 1947," accessed August 27, 2021 (Article V Section I)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 New Jersey Courts, "The New Jersey Courts | A guide to the judicial process," accessed August 27, 2021
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 New Jersey Legislature, "New Jersey State Constitution 1947," accessed August 27, 2021 (Article VI Section II)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lee A. Solomon |
New Jersey Supreme Court 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Attorney General of New Jersey 2013-2016 |
Succeeded by - |
Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of New Jersey • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Jersey
State courts:
New Jersey Supreme Court • New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division • New Jersey Superior Courts • New Jersey Municipal Courts • New Jersey Tax Court
State resources:
Courts in New Jersey • New Jersey judicial elections • Judicial selection in New Jersey
