Daniel Joseph O'Hern | |
---|---|
New Jersey Supreme Court | |
In office August 6, 1981 – 2000 |
|
Nominated by | Brendan Byrne |
Preceded by | Mark A. Sullivan |
Succeeded by | James Ronald Zazzali |
Personal details | |
Born |
Red Bank, New Jersey |
May 23, 1930
Died | April 1, 2009 Red Bank, New Jersey |
(aged 78)
Spouse(s) | Barbara |
Daniel Joseph O'Hern (May 23, 1930 – April 1, 2009) was a former Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, where he served from August 6, 1981 until his retirement upon his 70th birthday.
O'Hern was born in Red Bank in 1930 and attended Regis High School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He graduated from Fordham College in 1951. O'Hern served in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1954, during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade. After leaving form active duty, he graduated from Harvard Law School in 1957, and served as a clerk to United States Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.
He was an elected official in his hometown of Red Bank, serving on its borough council and as Mayor of Red Bank, New Jersey. Governor of New Jersey Brendan Byrne named him a commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and later as Counsel to the Governor. Byrne submitted his Supreme Court nomination to the New Jersey Senate, and he was confirmed on May 20, 1981, and sworn in on August 6, 1981.
Judge O’Hern’s opinion in State in the Interest of T.L.O. (1983) concerning administrative or teacher searches of public school students was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court in New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985).
He retired at age 70, and was replaced by James R. Zazzali.