Walter D. Van Riper

Walter David Van Riper (May 18, 1895 – March 4, 1973) was an American politician and judge. A member of the Republican Party, he served as mayor of West Orange, New Jersey, and was a county court judge for 18 years before being chosen to serve as the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1944 to 1948, focusing on combating racketeering while in office. He attended the New Jersey Law School (since merged into Rutgers Law School) and was admitted to the state bar in 1916. He was mayor of West Orange, New Jersey, in 1920 and served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1922 to 1924. Van Riper took office as New Jersey Attorney General in 1944 and served through 1948. In retaliation, Hague had charges of check kiting and black-market gasoline sales filed against Van Riper in federal court through a United States Attorney controlled by Hague. Van Riper went to trial on both indictments and was acquitted of all charges.