According to the New Jersey Supreme Court in Nini v. Mercer County Community College (decided June 1, 2010), New Jersey employers can refuse to hire or promote individuals who are over 70 years of age on the basis of age, but will violate the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”), N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq., if the employer refuses to renew a contract for the same reason. LAD prohibits an employer from refusing to hire, firing or otherwise discriminating against an employee because of a protected category such as age. However, LAD contains what is known as the “over 70 exception”, which provides that, “nothing herein contained shall be construed to bar an employer from refusing to accept for employment or to promote any person over 70 years of age….” N.J.S.A. 10:5-12(a).

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