McCarter & English partner and former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Princeton University in recognition of her career in public service and law. The honor was conferred during Princeton’s 2026 Commencement ceremony, where they awarded six honorary degrees recognizing leaders whose work has had a lasting impact across law, science, government, the arts, and global affairs. The other five recipients are William J. Burns, Steven Chu, Caryl Emerson, Herbie Hancock, and Strive Masiyiwa.
Justice LaVecchia served on the New Jersey Supreme Court for more than two decades, including as its longest-serving female justice, where she authored numerous influential opinions that helped shape state law. During her tenure, she presided over hundreds of cases and agency hearings and was widely recognized for her extensive knowledge of New Jersey’s governmental and regulatory systems.
Before joining the Court, she held senior leadership positions in New Jersey state government, including Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, Chief Administrative Law Judge in the Office of Administrative Law, and Director of the Division of Law within the Department of Law and Public Safety.
Since retiring from the bench, Justice LaVecchia has served as a partner at McCarter & English, where she advises clients on administrative law, regulatory matters, and complex litigation. Her practice draws on extensive experience with state agencies across sectors including financial services, healthcare, and public utilities, as well as a strong background in appellate strategy and litigation.