SC Mourns Loss of Judge Peter J. Barnes III

Superior Court Judge Peter J. Barnes III, a former state senator and assemblyman from Edison, died last night. Mr. Barnes served in the General Assembly from 2007 to 2014, and in the state senate from 2014 to 2016, when he became a New Jersey Superior Court Judge.

“Our hearts go out to Peter’s family. Senator Barnes was a champion for the environment. He fought to save the Dismal Swamp and to expand the Delaware and Raritan Canal. As an Assemblyman and Senator, he was a leader when it came to fighting climate change, cleaning up toxic sites, and more. He pushed for a Coastal Commission, worked on the Global Warming Response Act and more.,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. The Sierra Club endorsed Senator Barnes in every race he ran in the state legislature. We gave him an Achievement award because he not only stood up for the environment, he fought hard every day to protect it.”

A Democrat, he won the 18th District senate seat in a narrow, battleground election the same year that his predecessor, Senator Barbara Buono, lost to incumbent Republican Governor Chris Christie in a landslide.

“As you drive around Middlesex County and see open space, clean air and clean water, that is part of Peter’s legacy. He dedicated his life to make New Jersey a better place,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Peter was a wonderful person and a good friend. We would have dinner and drinks every so often and have a great time talking about politics and sports. He’d come over my house for single malt scotches. He was really one of the most decent people you would ever meet in politics or anywhere. He will be missed.”