New Jersey News
Warren Wilentz, one of the preeminent New Jersey attorneys and political powers in the state, has died.
Wilentz, 85, was considered the patriarch of the mighty Middlesex County Democratic Organization and served as its treasurer for many years.
His law firm, Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, is one of the most influential law firms in the state and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Democrats, helping to catapult Brendan Byrne, Jim Florio and James E. McGreevey to the Statehouse.
Wilentz was paralyzed in a car crash in 2002, but managed to return to his law practice on a part-time basis about three years later.
Middlesex County Sheriff Joseph Spicuzzo, who also serves as the chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, said he was saddened to hear about the death of his old friend and treasurer.
"He was such a vibrant man, but after his accident, he was never the same," Spicuzzo said. "It took its toll. I'm going to sorely miss him."
Wilentz was the son of David T. Wilentz, the former state attorney general who prosecuted Bruno Hauptman for the kidnap and murder of Charles Lindbergh's son. Wilentz's late brother, Robert was an assemblyman and served as chief justice of the state Supreme Court for 17 years.
Wilentz served as Middlesex County prosecutor from 1956 to 1960. Then he became county counsel and worked in that post for seven years.
Wilentz, 85, was considered the patriarch of the mighty Middlesex County Democratic Organization and served as its treasurer for many years.
His law firm, Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, is one of the most influential law firms in the state and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Democrats, helping to catapult Brendan Byrne, Jim Florio and James E. McGreevey to the Statehouse.
Wilentz was paralyzed in a car crash in 2002, but managed to return to his law practice on a part-time basis about three years later.
Middlesex County Sheriff Joseph Spicuzzo, who also serves as the chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, said he was saddened to hear about the death of his old friend and treasurer.
"He was such a vibrant man, but after his accident, he was never the same," Spicuzzo said. "It took its toll. I'm going to sorely miss him."
Wilentz was the son of David T. Wilentz, the former state attorney general who prosecuted Bruno Hauptman for the kidnap and murder of Charles Lindbergh's son. Wilentz's late brother, Robert was an assemblyman and served as chief justice of the state Supreme Court for 17 years.
Wilentz served as Middlesex County prosecutor from 1956 to 1960. Then he became county counsel and worked in that post for seven years.
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