Associate Justice Henry A. Ackerson Jr.

Justice Ackerson was born in Holmdel Township, near Hazlet, Monmouth County on Oct. 15, 1880. In 1890, his parents moved to Keyport. He graduated from the local high school in 1898 and later entered the Packard School, New York City. After his graduation therefrom, he engaged in business for a time, but later continued his education at the Senftner Preparatory School in New York City. He entered the New York Law School in 1900, from which he graduated with the scholarship prize of appointment as lecturer on pleading and practice at the law school, which position he occupied for two years. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar as an attorney-at-law, March 7, 1904 and became a counsellor-at-law and Master in Chancery on Nov. 28, 1909.

After his admission to the bar, Justice Ackerson engaged in practice at Keyport. He served for many years as attorney for the Boroughs of Keyport and Keansburg and the adjacent townships of Holmdel and Madison.

On Feb. 11, 1914, he was appointed counsel to the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Monmouth County, which position he occupied for seven years. He was also a member of the Board of Managers of the New Jersey State Home for Boys for 24 years. He was a member and past president of the Monmouth County Bar Association, was a member of the New Jersey and American Bar Associations and past president of the Holland Society of New York.

In 1914, he was elected to represent Monmouth County in the State Senate, and was re-elected in 1917. He resigned as Senator in 1919 to accept an appointment as Judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals, which position he occupied until Jan. 28, 1924, when he was appointed as a Circuit Court Judge for a full term of seven years. He was reappointed in 1931, 1938 and 1945. He was appointed by Governor Driscoll to the Supreme Court under the Constitution of 1947 and was sworn in on Sept. 15, 1948. Justice Ackerson retired from the Court in 1952 and died on Dec. 9, 1970 at the age of 90.

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