Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Supreme Weekly: Vacancies in January 2011
January 13, 2011
by Katy Farrell
As of today, vacancies on four courts leave six Supreme Court seats unfilled in Hawaii, Iowa, New Jersey and Texas.
HAWAII:
Since the August 2010 retirement of Ronald Moon, there has been a vacancy on the Hawaii Supreme Court. The vacancy is actually left by Mark Recktenwald, a former Associate Justice that was confirmed as Chief Justice in September. This means that the court, which is in session, is hearing cases with only four justices.
IOWA:
The Iowa Supreme Court has been operating with only four out of seven justices since the beginning of 2011. Because three justices were not retained in November's General Election, Governor Terry E. Branstad will appoint successors. Sixty-one candidates applied for the vacancies and interviewing with the state nominating commission begin on January 24.
- See also:
NEW JERSEY
In New Jersey, a political standoff is the reason for an unfilled seat. When Governor Chris Christie decided to break with tradition and nominate a new justice for the Supreme Court over incumbent John Wallace, he set off a chain of events that has since involved every branch of government in the state. The Governor's Judicial Advisory Panel resigned, and was summarily replaced, the New Jersey Senate refused to confirm Christie's nominee Anne Murray Patterson, and Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto abstained from voting after the interim appointment of Edwin Stern to the high court. Since publicly declaring his protest and announcing that will not seek reappointment to the seat, Rivera-Soto yesterday issued an opinion on a case, backpedaling slightly and saying that he will consider some cases. There is no telling when this vacancy will get filled, with the Governor refusing to renominate Wallace and the Senate refusing to confirm Patterson.
- See also:
- Justice Rivera-Soto will not seek renomination in 2011 January 4, 2011
- New Jersey Supreme Court Justice goes on strike December 13, 2010
- Proposed amendment to set deadline for Senate judicial confirmations September 22, 2010
- Judge Stern temporarily appointed to New Jersey Supreme Court September 9, 2010
- Judicial Advisory Panel resigns in New Jersey June 3, 2010
- New Jersey governor nominates attorney over incumbent for Supreme Court May 3, 2010
TEXAS
In a much more routine vacancy, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has an opening due to the December 31, 2010 retirement of Charles Holcomb. Governor Rick Perry will appoint a new justice to this court, which must be approved the Texas Senate.
See also
| |||||
