Robert Nathan Wilentz

Robert Nathan Wilentz (February 17, 1927 – July 23, 1996) was Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1979 to 1996, making him the longest-serving Chief Justice since the Supreme Court became New Jersey's highest court in 1948. Early life Robert Wilentz was born on February 17, 1927, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to David and Lena Wilentz. During Robert's childhood, his father was Attorney General of New Jersey, in which role he prosecuted Bruno Hauptmann for the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr., one of the highest profile criminal cases in American history. David Wilentz was also a powerful political boss in Middlesex County. Wilentz graduated from Perth Amboy High School, where he was valedictorian. He first enrolled at Princeton University, but left school to serve in the United States Navy. After completing two years of service, he graduated from Harvard University. After Harvard, Wilentz received his law degree from Columbia Law School, where he was named a Harlan Fiske Scholar and won the Robert Noxon Toppan Prize in Constitutional Law.