NJISJ Remembers foundingApril 23, 1924 – August 14, 2015 For more than 35 years, Dickinson R. Debevoise served with unparalleled distinction as a federal judge in New Jersey until his death at 91. A brilliant jurist, Judge Debevoise dedicated his life to pursuing justice, equality, and opportunity. He passed away peacefully at his home on August 14, 2015. Upon his passing, Chief U.S. District Judge Jerome Simandle said, “Our court has lost one of its greatest judges ever.” Judge Debevoise was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey by President Jimmy Carter in September 1979, and confirmed by the United States Senate the following month. He assumed senior status in 1994 and served an extraordinary 21 years as a senior judge.