Gov. Christie withdraws nomination of N.J. Assemblyman Carroll for Superior Court judge

Carroll is known as one of the state's most conservative lawmakers and the Christie administration, in a break with tradition, did not allow the state bar association enough time to vet the nominee

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Clik here to view.Frank H. Conlon/For The Star-LedgerAssemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll during a November Assembly Housing and Local Governance Committee hearing at the Statehouse.

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie has withdrawn the nomination of Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris) to be a Superior Court judge, according to a source with knowledge of the action.

The source requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the action before it was announced.

Carroll's nomination was poised to become controversial. He is known as one of the state's most conservative lawmakers and the Christie administration, in a break with tradition, did not allow the state bar association enough time to vet the nominee.

Lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which vets the governor's nominees, reacted with surprise.

"I haven't heard anything about that," Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) said. "I thought he was going to get a hearing today."

Christie and Carroll have a long history — they both ran for the same Assembly seat in 1995, and Carroll won the Republican primary.

The two also tangled over the budget last year. He was one of the last Republican holdouts and even considered resigning his seat during the tense negotiations.

"The governor feels he's qualified and will be a great judge for the Superior Court," a spokesman for the governor said Friday.

Neither Christie's office nor Carroll immediately responded to a request for comment today.

Carroll, 52, a member of the New Jersey bar since 1983, said last week he wouldn't be "counting his chickens" until the Senate approves the nomination.

"I'm not unhappy with what I'm doing," he said. "(But) the pinnacle, the highest form of public service, is to be a judge."

By Chris Megerian and Salvador Rizzo/Statehouse Bureau

Previous coverage:

• Christie nominates N.J. Assemblyman Carroll to be superior court judge

• Mulshine: Chris should listen to Mike on school funding

• N.J. GOP Assemblyman remains undecided about Gov. Chris Christie's proposed budget

• Carroll: Left's objections to Supreme Court are out of order