Will Christie punish a New Jersey judge for his gay-marriage ruling?

[theHandpuppet]

Will Christie punish a New Jersey judge for his gay-marriage ruling?
By Justin Snow on May 6, 2014

The New Jersey Supreme Court justice who led Gov. Chris Christie to abandon his fight over a court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in the Garden State could face political retribution from the Republican governor.

Last October, New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner delivered the court’s unanimous opinion denying a request by the Christie administration to put on hold a ruling by a lower court permitting same-sex marriage in the state while the case is appealed. Although the decision was not a final decision in the case, which was supposed to go before the high court several months later, many looked to the 7-0 decision allowing same-sex marriages to begin Oct. 21 as a preview of how the New Jersey Supreme Court could rule when the justices reached the merits of the case. The Christie administration appeared to agree.

“Chief Justice Stuart Rabner left no ambiguity about the unanimous court’s view on the ultimate decision in this matter when he wrote, ‘same-sex couples who cannot marry are not treated equally under the law today,’” a Christie spokesman said at the time. “Although the Governor strongly disagrees with the Court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the Court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law. The Governor will do his constitutional duty and ensure his Administration enforces the law as dictated by the New Jersey Supreme Court.”

But now, with Rabner up for reappointment to the bench in June, marriage-equality supporters fear the potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate may punish Rabner for his majority opinion....

MORE at http://www.metroweekly.com/2014/05/will-christie-punish-a-new-jersey-judge-for-his-gay-marriage-ruling/