ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 131

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 17, 1997

By Assemblyman COHEN

A Concurrent Resolution honoring the late Justice William J. Brennan.

Whereas,, The death of retired Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan on July 24, 1997 was an occasion of great sorrow for all citizens of this nation but most particularly for the citizens of this State; and

Whereas, William J. Brennan was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 25, 1906 and upon his graduation from Harvard Law School in 1931 practiced law in Newark; and

Whereas, William J. Brennan played a key role in the movement to reform the State judicial system and helped propose changes in that system which were adopted by the Constitutional Convention of 1947; and

Whereas, William J. Brennan was appointed Assignment Judge in Hudson County by Governor Alfred E. Driscoll in 1949 and the old Hudson County Courthouse was named after Justice Brennan in September of 1988; and

Whereas, William J. Brennan served on the Appellate Division and the New Jersey Supreme Court; and

Whereas, After four years of service on the New Jersey Supreme Court, William J. Brennan was named by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to the United States Supreme Court; and

Whereas, Justice Brennan's role and influence on the Unite States     Supreme Court is evidenced in his authorship of 461 majority     opinions, 425 dissents and 474 other opinions; and

Whereas, Justice Brennan delivered the opinion of the Court in cases   such as Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962) providing that voting             districts should be apportioned so that voting blocks are equal; in         New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964) concerning      the constitutional protections of the First Amendment for speech       and press limiting a State's power to award damages in a libel action   brought by a public officials against critics of their official conduct           in the absence of "actual malice;" and Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S.       254 (1970) holding that a welfare recipient was entitled to an               evidentiary hearing prior to termination of benefits in order to      provide procedural due process; and

Whereas, Justice Brennan's career on the highest court continued for 34 years and his contributions to the jurisprudence of the court will continue for countless years beyond those years of service; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

    1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey honors the late Justice William J. Brennan for his service to this nation, this State and the legal profession and extends deepest sympathies to his family.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the family of the late Justice William J. Brennan.

STATEMENT

    This concurrent resolution honors the late Justice William J. Brennan for his service to this nation, this State and the legal profession and extends deepest sympathies to his family.

Honors the late Justice William J. Brennan.