Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Italian American Heritage Month: Marie L. Garibaldi

Marie L. Garibaldi

Marie Garibaldi was an American success story and a trailblazer.

Justice Garibaldi was the first woman to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court, the state’s highest court. She also was the first woman to serve as President of the New Jersey State Bar Association, and as a director of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Bell Telephone Co., and the Washington Savings Bank.

Justice Garibaldi graduated from Connecticut College with honors in economics. She received her law degree at Columbia University Law School and her master’s degree in tax law from New York University. The Justice is a member of the New Jersey, New York, and District of Columbia bars.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Justice Marie Garibaldi, a specialist in tax law, was a partner in the law firm of Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti. Justice Garibaldi also was a frequent speaker on issues involving tax law, state constitutional law, gender, and the legal profession, and has written numerous articles.

The Justice was the recipient of several awards including the Medal for Excellence from Columbia University School of Law and has received Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Law from St. John’s University Law School, Seton Hall University Law School, Farleigh Dickinson University, and Drew University. She has also received Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Humane Letters from Upsala College, Caldwell College, College of Saint Elizabeth, and Saint Peter’s College.

Justice Garibaldi retired from the Court on February 1, 2000. She then went on to several other roles as Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of The National Italian American Foundation, a member and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Governors of Hackensack University Medical Center, Chair of the Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center, Executive Vice President of the American Society of Italian Legions of Merit, a member of the Councillors and Secretary of the Order of Malta, American Association.


Justice Garibaldi died in 2016 at the age of 82.

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