NEWS

Former N.J. Justice Clifford dead at 89

William Westhoven
@WWesthoven

Former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Robert L. Clifford — one of the longest-tenured justices to serve in the Garden State — died in his sleep on Saturday at his home in Chester Township, family members confirmed.

Clifford was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 1973 by former Gov. William Cahill and served there until his retirement in 1994. He is still listed as an attorney at the Morristown office of the law firm McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP.

According to former Justice Gary Stein, who served with Clifford on the state Supreme Court, Clifford’s service on the state’s highest court lasted longer than any other judge with the exception of Nathan Jacobs, who served (with a four-year interruption while he was senior judge of the Appellate Division of Superior Court) from 1948 to 1975.

“He was a great friend and a great colleague,” Stein told the Daily Record. “He had an uncanny work ethic, a marvelous sense of humor and a great ability to keep the court on an even keel. There were times when we would be together for eight, nine hours, and it could get contentious. But he had a natural ability for keeping the atmosphere cordial and collegiate. Because of him, we had a great respect for each other, even when we disagreed.”

Stein and others laughed at the memory of Clifford’s “unofficial” work as a “court grammarian” who would spend hours correcting the grammar, format and citations of all opinions written by the court.

“I remember a few months after I started, and I finally had to write an opinion,” Stein said. “Then I get it back from him, with more red lines than I remember seeing in school.”

But Stein said that because of Clifford’s meticulous editing, “Our court had a national reputation for well-written opinions. He was immensely instrumental in making sure they were models of clarity and thoughtfulness.”

“I used to drive to Trenton with Bob, and he made the time fly by,” said another former New Jersey Supreme Court justice, Stewart Pollock, a lifelong Morris County resident recently transplanted to Florida. “Depending on what was on his mind, he could be the Archbishop of Canterbury or Jimmy Breslin. He harkened back to an era when you could strive mightly (against your court opponents), but drink as friends.”

Lehigh, Duke origins

Clifford began his law career after graduating from Lehigh University and Duke University School of Law in 1950.

After serving as law clerk to New Jersey Supreme Court Justice William A. Wachenfeld, Clifford practiced in civil and criminal trials in Newark until 1962, when he became a partner in the Morristown firm of Egan, O’Donnell, Hanley & Clifford.

Clifford joined Cahill’s cabinet in 1970, first as commissioner of Banking and Insurance, then as commissioner of Insurance, and finally as commissioner of Institutions and Agencies. In September 1973, Cahill appointed Clifford to the Supreme Court, where he authored hundreds of opinions touching on almost every field of law.

Clifford served under three chief justices – Pierre Garvin, Richard J. Hughes and Robert N. Wilentz – and shared the bench with 11 associate justices over the course of his career.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to Justice Clifford’s wife Ruth and to his children and grandchildren,” the New Jersey Supreme Court members wrote in statement on Monday.

‘Vast background’

Morristown superior Court Assignment Judge Thomas Weisenbeck, who met Clifford when he was still a law student, said Clifford’s “vast background” in litigation was instrumental in helping the court “grapple with many issues.”

After retiring from the bench, Clifford lent his expertise to McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & LLP before concluding his career about two years ago. Partner Walter F. Timpone said “he was as available to junior associates as he was to senior partners, helping out wherever he could.”

“We are in deep mourning here,” Timpone said. “He had this impish, mischievous sense of humor, which came out especially when he would see pomposity where he thought humility should be. That’s what I remember most about him, his humor and his humility.”

Outside of court, Clifford kept on the move, often on a bicycle as an avid rider. Stein said he and Clifford bonded over their love of cycling, and that Clifford joined a 60-mile ride through Bergen County that Stein organized for his 60th birthday.

“Then I did it again for my 65th birthday, and he rode again, at age 75,” Stein recalled. “Sixty miles and he never broke a sweat.”

Clifford is survived his wife, Ruth, and three sons from a previous marriage, Jack, Robert and Michael.

No funeral or memorial services have been announced, although a service is expected to be scheduled for later in the month in Morristown.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.