Stanley C. Van Ness (1933-2007) became the first Black chief counsel to the Governor of New Jersey when he was named to the post by Gov. Richard J. Hughes in 1967, at age 34.  He was sworn in just at the start of the Newark riots.

Van Ness  became an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey in 1963 and an assistant counsel to the Governor in 1965.

In 1969, Hughes named Van Ness to head the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender.

Gov. Brendan Byrne created the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate in 1974 and named Van Ness to lead it as a member of his cabinet. He served in the cabinet for the entire eight years of the Byrne administration.

As Public Advocate, Van Ness, representing the interests of ratepayers before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, sued the New Jersey Department of Human Services over miserable conditions in state mental health facilities, and the Boy Scouts of America after they denied four Toms River Scouts with muscular dystrophy the ability to become Eagle Scouts because they could not earn swimming-related merit badges.

— Source: NJ Globe

Dear Friends,

Every February, Mercer County joins the nation in celebrating Black History Month. This year, however, the celebration feels somber in the wake of yet another case of deadly over-policing, this time in the City of Memphis where Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old father, became the latest Black man in a horrific line of abuse. Mr. Nichols’ death is a glaring reminder that efforts to reform policing have a long way to go. As we together peacefully protest this latest incident, let it spark broader conversations about the need for police reform, without losing sight of the important work done by police professionals in our communities.

— County Executive Brian M. Hughes