Justice Jaynee LaVecchia received the Special Recognition Award at the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey’s 57th Annual Trial Bar Award Reception on October 9, 2025. This honor is given to individuals whose careers reflect a deep commitment to the legal profession and a lasting contribution to the pursuit of justice in New Jersey.
The Trial Bar Award Reception is a marquee event recognizing excellence in advocacy. This year’s award highlights Justice LaVecchia’s invaluable contributions to the advancement of fair, ethical, and principled trial practice throughout the state.
Nominated by Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Justice LaVecchia served for more than 21 years on the New Jersey Supreme Court and is the longest-serving female justice in New Jersey history. During her tenure, she presided over hundreds of cases and authored numerous opinions on critical issues impacting New Jersey’s most prominent industries.
Before her nomination to the Supreme Court, Justice LaVecchia served as the New Jersey Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, overseeing thousands of insurance companies, banks, and credit unions. Prior to that, she held various leadership positions, including Deputy Chief Counsel in the Office of Counsel to Governor Thomas H. Kean, Chief Administrative Law Judge in New Jersey’s Office of Administrative Law, and Director of the Division of Law within the Department of Law and Public Safety.
Justice LaVecchia is a Fellow of the American Bar Association, a Trustee for the Atlantic Health System, and a Trustee for Legal Services of New Jersey.