Associate Justice Peter G. Verniero

Justice Verniero was born in Montclair on April 30, 1959. He attended public schools and in 1981 graduated summa cum laude from Drew University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated with honors from Duke University School of Law in 1984 and was admitted to the New Jersey bar.

The justice served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Associate Justice Robert L. Clifford during the 1984-85 court term. In private practice, Justice Verniero was an associate with the law firm of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch from 1985 to 1987 and was a director of the firm of Herold & Haines from 1990 to 1993. In 1986, he was an adjunct professor of law at the County College of Morris.

Appointed by Governor Christine Todd Whitman as her chief counsel, Justice Verniero served in that capacity from January 1994 to February 1995, when he became the Governor's chief of staff. He remained in that position until July 10, 1996, when he was sworn as Attorney General. While Attorney General, he personally handled several landmark cases, appearing, for example, in defense of Megan's Law before the United States Court of Appeals, which upheld the law in 1997. Governor Whitman nominated Justice Verniero to the Supreme Court on Feb. 26, 1999. The Senate confirmed the nomination on May 10, 1999, and Justice Verniero took the oath of office on Sept. 1, 1999, serving until Aug. 31, 2004. He is married to the former Lisa Gaede. They have two daughters.