New Jersey

In response to concerns expressed by senate Democrats about a supreme court nominee’s lack of courtroom experience, Governor Christie noted that the state bar association found the nominee to be qualified, but the nominee was ultimately rejected by a 7-6 vote. He would have been the first openly gay justice and the third African-American to serve on the supreme court.

A state senator criticized Governor Christie for not taking action on longstanding superior court vacancies. A shortage of judges recently led to a four-month suspension of civil trials in the state’s busiest courthouse. Christie responded that he will address those vacancies after the senate has voted on pending nominations.

For the first time in history, the senate judiciary committee rejected a supreme court nominee. Governor Christie attributed the 7-6 vote not to confirm his nominee to an attempt by Democrats to appease unions after voting last year to revamp public employee health insurance and pension benefits.

In anticipation of confirmation hearings for Governor Christie’s two supreme court appointees, public employees unions expressed concern to the senate about the governor’s partisan approach to judicial appointments. They allege that the governor selected a Republican “posing as an independent” in order to observe the tradition of party balance on the supreme court.

Governor Christie criticized the Democratic-led senate for not yet having scheduled confirmation hearings for the supreme court nominees he named in late January. According to a judiciary committee member, they are looking into financial issues involving one of the nominees.

Christie nominated two men who would bring greater diversity to the state’s highest court—the first openly gay justice and the first Asian-American justice. The nominees must be confirmed by the Democratic-controlled senate.

In discussing his plan to challenge a supreme court-ordered formula for state education funding, Governor Christie pledged to nominate two new supreme court justices this spring who would not “grossly” overstep their powers. The court ruled in May 2011 that Christie’s cuts to education funding were unconstitutional.

As a result of the standoff between Governor Christie and Democratic leaders in the legislature, one-fourth of the judgeships on the Essex County Superior Court are vacant. The governor is said to be refusing to fill these seats because the senate has not confirmed his appointee as education commissioner for nearly a year.

Bypassing the intermediate appellate court, the supreme court agreed to review a trial court decision invalidating an increase in judges’ contributions to their health insurance and pensions. Governor Christie characterized this as a “manipulation of the judicial process” and referred to the justices as "unelected, unresponsive public servants" and "the exalted elite."

Christie campaigned for Republican state legislators, who are up for reelection in November, on the issue of “elitist judges.” Christie plans to propose a constitutional amendment to bypass the ruling.