John H. Dorsey
Encyclopedia
John H. Dorsey is an American attorney and Republican Party
politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
from 1976 to 1994, serving in the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1976 to 1978 and in the New Jersey Senate
from 1978 to 1994. Dorsey represented the 23rd Legislative District
until 1982 and the 25th Legislative District
starting that year in redistricting following the 1980 United States Census.
Dorsey was born on December 26, 1937, in Newark
and resided in Boonton Township
. In the 1977 elections, Dorsey faced incumbent Democrat Stephen B. Wiley
, who had been one of the prime sponsors of the Public School Education Act of 1975, which expanded state aid to public school districts. Dorsey had served in the Assembly on the Taxation Committee and was an opponent of the state income tax bill that Wiley had supported. Wiley's support of the income tax was one of Dorsey's key campaign issues. Dorsey went on to win the Senate seat bya 43.3%-45.7% margin.
After the 1991 elections, with the Republicans taking control of the Senate, Dorsey had hoped to step up from being minority leader but was defeated by Donald DiFrancesco
for the post of majority leader. Both DiFrancesco and Dorsey had actively lobbied candidates running for office, making contributions and offers of committee chairmanships to individuals who might provide support in the race for majority leader.
Dorsey made efforts in 1993 to block Governor of New Jersey
James Florio
's reappointment of Judge Marianne Espinosa Murphy of the Family Court. Dorsey invoked "senatorial courtesy
", an unwritten rule under which Senators from a gubernatorial appointee's home county can block consideration of a candidate from that county. Dorsey indicated that he had received complaints about Judge Murphy that she "giggles and throws pencils on the desk during testimony", though she was viewed as a model judge by an advocacy group for custodial parents who said that she would actively enforce judgments against deadbeat parents and was endorsed by the New Jersey State Bar Association
, which had had a longstanding objection to the use of senatorial courtesy. Dorsey was one of three Republican State Senators to lose their seats in the 1993 general election, falling to Democratic former Assemblymember Gordon MacInnes
by 607 votes. His loss was attributed to his use of senatorial courtesy to block Judge Murphy.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
from 1976 to 1994, serving in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
from 1976 to 1978 and in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
from 1978 to 1994. Dorsey represented the 23rd Legislative District
23rd Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Hunterdon County municipalities of Alexandria Township, Bethlehem Township, Bloomsbury Borough, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Franklin Township, Frenchtown...
until 1982 and the 25th Legislative District
25th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 25th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Morris County municipalities of Boonton Town, Boonton Township, Chester Borough, Chester Township, Denville Township, Dover Town, Mendham Township, Mine Hill Township, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mount Arlington...
starting that year in redistricting following the 1980 United States Census.
Dorsey was born on December 26, 1937, in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and resided in Boonton Township
Boonton Township, New Jersey
Boonton Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 4,263....
. In the 1977 elections, Dorsey faced incumbent Democrat Stephen B. Wiley
Stephen B. Wiley
Stephen B. Wiley is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1974 to 1978, where he represented the 23rd Legislative District....
, who had been one of the prime sponsors of the Public School Education Act of 1975, which expanded state aid to public school districts. Dorsey had served in the Assembly on the Taxation Committee and was an opponent of the state income tax bill that Wiley had supported. Wiley's support of the income tax was one of Dorsey's key campaign issues. Dorsey went on to win the Senate seat bya 43.3%-45.7% margin.
After the 1991 elections, with the Republicans taking control of the Senate, Dorsey had hoped to step up from being minority leader but was defeated by Donald DiFrancesco
Donald DiFrancesco
Donald Thomas DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature....
for the post of majority leader. Both DiFrancesco and Dorsey had actively lobbied candidates running for office, making contributions and offers of committee chairmanships to individuals who might provide support in the race for majority leader.
Dorsey made efforts in 1993 to block Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
James Florio
James Florio
James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...
's reappointment of Judge Marianne Espinosa Murphy of the Family Court. Dorsey invoked "senatorial courtesy
Senatorial courtesy (New Jersey)
Senatorial courtesy is an unwritten rule practiced in the Senate of the U.S. state of New Jersey under which a State Senator can indefinitely block consideration of a nomination by the Governor of New Jersey for a gubernatorial nominee from the Senator's home county, without being required to...
", an unwritten rule under which Senators from a gubernatorial appointee's home county can block consideration of a candidate from that county. Dorsey indicated that he had received complaints about Judge Murphy that she "giggles and throws pencils on the desk during testimony", though she was viewed as a model judge by an advocacy group for custodial parents who said that she would actively enforce judgments against deadbeat parents and was endorsed by the New Jersey State Bar Association
New Jersey State Bar Association
The New Jersey State Bar Association is the publisher of New Jersey Lawyer Magazine. It operates the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law with the state and federal judiciaries. Membership requires that applicants have a bona fide New Jersey law office....
, which had had a longstanding objection to the use of senatorial courtesy. Dorsey was one of three Republican State Senators to lose their seats in the 1993 general election, falling to Democratic former Assemblymember Gordon MacInnes
Gordon MacInnes
Gordon A. MacInnes is a Democratic politician from New Jersey who has served twice in the state Legislature. MacInnes was elected to the state Assembly in 1973 in a heavily Republican Morris County district, as part of the Watergate-driven Democratic landslide of that year. He was defeated in his...
by 607 votes. His loss was attributed to his use of senatorial courtesy to block Judge Murphy.