Justice Wallace grateful for colleague support as term ends

ATLANTIC CITY — Former Supreme Court Justice John Wallace Jr. only hinted at how tough the past few weeks have been when he thanked a roomful of lawyers and judges Friday for the support they’ve shown since Gov. Chris Christie declined to reappoint him. "You’ve made these last two weeks bearable," Wallace told those assembled at the state bar...

Noah K. Murray/The Star-LedgerSupreme Court Chief Justice John Wallace speaks after being recognized for his years of service during the New Jersey State Bar Association's Annual Meeting and Convention. ATLANTIC CITY — Former Supreme Court Justice John Wallace Jr. only hinted at how tough the past few weeks have been when he thanked a roomful of lawyers and judges Friday for the support they’ve shown since Gov. Chris Christie declined to reappoint him.

"You’ve made these last two weeks bearable," Wallace told those assembled at the state bar association’s annual conference in Atlantic City. "You can’t imagine the wonderful comments and thoughts that have been addressed to me."

In his first public comments since Christie announced May 3 he planned to replace Wallace with Morris County attorney and resident Anne Patterson, the jurist received three lengthy standing ovations. He also joked about the reaction he’s gotten.

"I’m glad I’m not one of those persons that has left this world -- you’ve treated me as if I have. I assure you I’m still here," he said. "It’s been a wonderful life. ... Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Wallace was swarmed as he left the podium, and he shook hands, shared embraces and thanked well-wishers. He declined to elaborate beyond the brief comments he had made.

"He has a natural warmth about him," said Susan Feeney, a tax lawyer at the McCarter & English law firm in Newark.

Although his term ended Thursday, Wallace is expected to continue meeting with the six other high court justices to complete their work on the cases he was involved in, said Winnie Comfort, communications director for the judiciary.

Christie’s dismissal of a justice who had not been deemed unfit broke six decades of tradition, alarming those who said it could politicize the court and jeopardize its independence but bringing cheers from conservatives who feel the court has overstepped its bounds. The Republican governor said he disagrees with the direction the state’s highest court has taken.

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) has said Patterson’s nomination will not be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and Haddonfield attorney Allen Etish, whose term as president of the New Jersey State Bar Association ended Thursday, also praised Wallace.

"Justice Wallace’s service to the court was marked by scholarship that appears in the body of work in the opinions he leaves behind, which speak for themselves, by a deep sense of respect for litigants, by the wisdom that he consistently displayed in his handling of challenging issues that came before him as a judge and a justice -- anchored at all times by his sense of grace with his hallmark smile and touch of humor," Rabner said.

Etish, who presented Wallace with a framed 14-paragraph resolution from the bar that lauds his judicial and civic accomplishments, recalled their first meeting in 1973, when the jurist was a municipal court judge. Wallace subsequently held Superior Court and appellate judgeships before joining the Supreme Court in 2003.

"For the last seven years, his priority on the bench as a dedicated public servant has been handing out justice in a very compassionate way," Etish said. "John, my heart goes out — every heart in this room goes out to you. "We love you, we admire you, stay well."

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