Jaynee LaVecchia (born October 9, 1954) is a former associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey. She was nominated by Governor Christine Todd Whitman to serve on the court on January 6, 2000 and was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate on January 10, 2000. In 2007, she was reappointed with tenure by Governor Jon Corzine. Although she could have served until reaching the mandatory retirement age in 2024, LaVecchia has announced her intention to retire from the Court effective December 31, 2021, unless her successor was confirmed earlier.
Biography
Jaynee LaVecchia was born in Paterson, New Jersey on October 9, 1954. She is a 1976 graduate of Douglass College and graduated in 1979 from Rutgers School of Law – Newark. She has been a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association since 1980. She was in private practice and worked as Director of the Division of Law within the Department of Law and Public Safety since August 1, 1984. As director, she was responsible for the legal work of all lawyers assigned to the civil side of the New Jersey Attorney ’s Office.
LaVecchia served in the Office of Counsel to Republican Governor Thomas Kean from 1986 to 1989, first as an Assistant Counsel and then as Deputy Chief Counsel. She was Director and Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Administrative Law from 1989 through July 1994. In 1996, she was elected a Fellow of the American Bar Association. On August 24, 1998, LaVecchia became Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.
LaVecchia was nominated by Governor Christine Todd Whitman to serve on the Supreme Court on December 24, 1999. She was confirmed by the Senate on January 10, 2000 and sworn in for a term to begin February 1, 2000. She replaced Marie L. Garibaldi. Governor Jon Corzine reappointed her to the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2006. She has chaired or served on various Supreme Court Committees, subcommittees, and other Court-assigned projects. She has been granted tenure until October 9, 2024.
Decisions
2008–09 Term
Education Law Center v. N.J. Department of Education
IMO Civil Commitment of J.M.B. Piermount Iron Works, Inc. v. Evanston Insurance Co. State v. Reeds State v. Smith
2007–08 Term
Board of Education of the City of Sea Isle City v. Kennedy
Cutler v. Dorn
Godfrey v. Princeton Theological Seminary
Hunterdon Medical Center v. Twp. of Readington
In re Application of Virtua-West Jersey Hospital Voorhees for a Certificate of Need Jablonowska v. Suther Rutgers Casualty Insurance Co. v. LaCroix State v. Burr State v. Hamilton State v. Wilder Tarr v. Bob Ciasulli's Mack Auto Mall, Inc.
2006–07 Term
D'Annunzio v. Prudential Insurance Co. Davidson v. Slater IMO Tammy Herrmann Phillips v. Gelpke State v. Dispoto State v. Fleischman State v. Romero State v. Williams – Evidence suggesting Jayson Williams' consciousness of guilt in shooting death of Gus Christofi was admissible at trial. Stomel v. City of Camden
2005–06 Term
Delta Funding Corp. v. Harris
In re NJPDES Permit No. NJ0025241
Gazis v. Miller
Muhammad v. County Bank of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Olivo v. Owens-Illinois, Inc. State v. Boretsky State v. Chapland State v. Pierce State v. Thomas State v. Nesbitt Thomsen v. Mercer-Charles
2004–05 Term
DKM Residential Properties Corp. v. Township of Montgomery
Gerety v. Atlantic City Hilton Casino
Hennessey v. Winslow Township
H.K. v. N.J. Department of Human Services
Pinto v. N.J. Manufacturers Insurance Co. Shankman v. State State v. Benthall State v. B.H. State v. Brennan State v. Harris State v. Johnson Thiedemann v. Mercedes-Benz, U.S.A., LCC Township of Monroe v. Gasko Yurick v. State
2003–04 Term
Camden Bd. of Education v. Alexander
Galvao v. G.R. Robert Construction Co. N.J. Manufacturers Insurance Co. v. Hardy State v. Banko State v. Brannon State v. Cassidy State v. Cook State v. Negran State v. Pena State v. P.H. State v. Reiner Varsolona v. Breen Capital Services Corp. Weishaus v. Weishaus
2002–03 Term
D.L. Real Estate Holdings, LLC v. Point Pleasant Beach Planning Board
McCurrie v. Town of Kearny
McDevitt v. Bill Good Builders
Nisivoccia v. Glass Gardens, Inc. Palisades Safety & Insurance Association v. Bastien Silvestri v. Optus Software, Inc. State v. Pelham State in the Interest of S.G. Warren County Community College v. Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders