N.J. governor dumping state high court's only black judge

[LynneSin]

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100503/NEWS/100503050/N.J.+governor+dumping+state+high+court+s+only+black+judge

N.J. governor dumping state high court's only black judge
BY ANGELA DELLI SANTI • ASSOCIATED PRESS • MAY 3, 2010

TRENTON — New Jersey's new Republican governor has made his first move to reshape the state Supreme Court, ousting the only black justice and nominating a lawyer with long experience in private practice to take his place.

Gov. Chris Christie made his announcement today, weeks before the end of Justice John E. Wallace's seven-year first term.

He selected Anne M. Patterson, who is white, as a replacement. If the Mendham Township resident is confirmed by the Senate, the court's makeup would stand with six white members and one Hispanic in a state with a black population of about 12 percent. Patterson is a registered Republican and Wallace a Democrat.

Less than four months after taking office, Christie seized the first opportunity to leave his stamp on a court he has long criticized for being too liberal. The former federal prosecutor has said the court overstepped its bounds when it legalized same-sex unions, ordered towns to build affordable housing and gave billions in aid to poor school districts.

_______________________________

You stay Classy Gov Christie

:puke:

[MadMaddie]

1. Ahh those good old Republican values shining their ugly head!

[BlooInBloo]

2. Because everyone knows that's the problem with the judiciary: too many black folks.

:rofl:

[Cha]

3. And, I read christie's polls were way down

bc he's doing such a crappy job.

[napi21]

5. The nng.ewest I could find on Christie's poll #'s is the followi

TRENTON -- Public opinion of Gov. Chris Christie has taken a dive in the aftermath of his first state budget, according to a poll released today.

The Rutgers-Eagleton poll found that Christie's favorability rating sank 12 points since February, when 45 percent of residents had a favorable opinion of the governor and 26 percent unfavorable. Now that stands at 33 percent favorable and 37 percent unfavorable, according to the poll.


http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/nj_gov_chris_chrstie_poll_numb.html

\It's from April. I don't see his #'s improving either. I'm sure he still has some supporters, but I question hw many now have buyers remorse. It's a shame some other Dem, other than Corsine, would have beeen running against him. From the comments at the end of that article, LOTS of people hated him a lot. I guess we'll see in 3 years how the NJ electorate feels.

[Cha]

6. Buyer's Remorse indeed!

He's screwing them on education and now it sounds like he's trying to leave his ugly mark on the Court while the opportunity is still there.

[aquart]

4. And you expected something else from Christie?

This is what New Jersey wanted. I'm a New Yorker. No New Yorker has ever had any respect for New Jersey.

[monmouth]

10. That is so blatantly untrue. "No New Yorker has ever had any

respect for New Jersey." Wow. I guess that's why New Yorkers have moved in droves to New Jersey, visit the shores each summer, etc.

[name not needed]

11. So I take it this means your Guido trash will stop crowding our beaches then?

[chillspike]

14. hey hey hey

be nice be nice! lol

[JackBeck]

7. Lesniak confirmed this evening

that he has secured promises from both the head of the Judiciary committee and Senate President that they will block the nominee for two years until Wallace's term has expired.

[FarCenter]

9. Democrats enraged by Governor's decision to nominate Morris County lawyer to replace John E. Wallace

BY TOM HESTER SR. -- NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Gov. Chris Christie's nomination Monday of Anne Murray Patterson, a Morristown-based attorney who lives in Mendham, to replace Justice John E. Wallace Jr. on the state Supreme Court is meeting with strong opposition from Democratic legislative leaders. She would become the fourth woman justice on the court. The only minority member after Wallace leaves will be Justice Roberto A Rivera-Soto, who is of Puerto Rican dissent.

Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would have to approve Patterson's nomination, said it should be defeated.

Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester) called Christie's decision not to renominate Wallace is political and accused the governor of giving in to the right wing of his Republican Party.

If renominated, Wallace, 68, of Sewell, the only black on the seven-member court, would have served no more than two years before he would have had to retire at the mandatory age of 70. His initial seven-year term expires on May 20. He is the first justice to be denied tenure although there have been others who resigned to avoid a renomination fight.

[LynneSin]

15. That's good to hear - I think Dems still control the NJ Congress

Hopefully in 3 years NJ voters will unload this ass!

[Kber]

8. This is what passes for a "moderate" republican

and this asshat is not only from my state. He's from my town. :(

{kber hangs her head in shame)

[name not needed]

12. I don't even want to imagine what would be happening if Lonegan was Governor right now...

[political_Dem]

13. Christie is trying to outdo George Wallace every step he takes.

Along with Frau Brewer, America is getting a good glimpse of what it will be like if these racist conservatives hold the reins of power--especially if they are given the chance to revive Jim Crow without opposition. In Frau Brewer's state, it's already happening.