Pittstown, NJ--Justice Alan B. Handler, 92, a former longstanding member of the New Jersey Supreme Court, died on May 23, 2024 at Country Arch Care Center in Pittstown.

Justice Handler's contribution to the jurisprudence of the State of New Jersey was remarkable.  Over the course of his career as a judge, he authored close to 500 opinions, including dissents and concurrences.

As an Appellate Court Justice, in 1974, he wrote the majority opinion giving females the right to play Little League baseball in the State of New Jersey and in 1975, in what is believed to be the first case in the nation to address the right of transsexual people to marry, divorce and claim spousal support, he decided M.T. v. J.T.

Justice Handler served on the New Jersey Supreme Court for over 22 years from 1977 to 1999 under Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz. Legal experts in and out of New Jersey commended, and criticized, the Wilentz court for its outpouring of influential, often liberal rulings. Prof. Laurence H. Tribe of Harvard Law School once called it the best state supreme court in the nation.

As remembered by his friend and fellow jurist, the now deceased Daniel J. O'Hern, Justice O'Hern wrote, "every great court needs a cleanup hitter, someone strong, someone certain, someone upon whom others can safely rely to come through at crucial moments. That was Justice Handler's role on the New Jersey Supreme Court."

After leaving public service, he joined the New Jersey law firm of Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer, retiring in 2016.

Justice Handler was born on July 20, 1931 in Newark, New Jersey; son of the late Charles and Ida Handler. He attended Newark Academy and Princeton University where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and was graduated magna cum laude in 1953. He earned an additional degree at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and studied law at Harvard Law School where he received his degree in 1956, the year in which he was admitted to the bar.

Justice Handler served as deputy attorney general from 1961 to 1964 and as first assistant attorney general from 1964-1968. He served on the New Jersey Superior Court from 1968-1973 and on the Appellate Division of the Superior Court from 1973- 1976 at which time he resigned to accept an appointment as special counsel to Gov. Brendan T. Byrne. In 1977, Gov. Byrne announced his appointment of Justice Handler to the Supreme Court on which Justice Handler served until his retirement from the bench in 1999.

After his retirement, Justice Handler enjoyed spending time at his sheep farm in Hunterdon County with his family and wide assortment of animals. He filled his days with reading in his library (often with a Giants or Yankees game playing in the background) and building innumerable stone walls on his property. He also became an adept sculptor, using members of his beloved breed of sheep, the Leicester Longwool, as models.

Justice Handler was predeceased by his wife Rose Handler, and his brothers, Professor Joel F. Handler and Mark Handler. He is survived by his three daughters, N. Nicki Handler (Chloe), Carolyn Handler (Stancy), and Julia Handler (Sally), his two step-children, Kara Foxe and Sean Foxe, and six nephews and nieces.

Burial arrangements will be private and are under the direction of Countryside Funeral Home, 724 Route 202 North Three Bridges, NJ 08887. A memorial celebration of Justice Handler's life will be announced at a later time. Memorial contributions may be made in Justice Alan B. Handler's name to Hunterdon Hospice, 215 NJ-31, Flemington, NJ 08822, 1-908-788-6100, or Hunterdon Hospice . To send condolences to the family or share photographs, please visit Countryside Funeral Home