Two Supreme Court justices nominated in New Jersey
January 24, 2012
Trenton, New Jersey: Yesterday, Governor Chris Christie made his second and third appointments to the Supreme Court. Those nominees, Phil Kwon and Bruce Harris, now face confirmation by the New Jersey State Senate. Already, the Senate has disappointed Christie, by stating "we are not going to move hastily" to confirm the nominees. The governor was hoping to have a full court by March 1, which is the day that Justice Virginia Long steps down due to the mandatory retirement age.[1]
If confirmed, both nominees would represent historic firsts on the court of last resort. Phil Kwon would become the first Asian-American to serve, while Bruce Harris would be the first openly gay member of the court. Kwon has been with the State Attorney General's Office for years, and before that, served as Assistant U.S. District Attorney while Christie worked in the office. Harris was elected mayor of Chatham Borough in last year's election and has spent his legal career in private practice.[1]
One of the nominees will succeed John Wallace, the justice whose non-reappointment soon after Christie took office set off a wave of criticism. Senate Democrats continually promised to not replace Wallace with a new justice until his retirement date passed; that would have been on March 13, 2012.[2]
To learn more about the process of nomination and confirmation in the state, visit: Judicial selection in New Jersey.
To see a list of the governor's judicial nominees, visit: Judges appointed by Chris Christie.
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