Senate President Sweeney says he will not hold a hearing until Justice John Wallace, Jr.'s term expires
Anne Murray Patterson speaks after Gov. Chris Christie announces her nomination to become an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.TRENTON — Remember Anne Patterson? Gov. Chris Christie’s office wants you to.
Patterson, an attorney who Christie nominated to the state Supreme Court in May, has been in limbo since then, caught in the middle of a spat between Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), the state’s second-highest ranking elected official.
Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak compared the inaction on Patterson to the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan by the U.S. Senate Thursday.
“From nomination by President Obama to Senate confirmation yesterday, it took just 88 days for Elana Kagan to become the 112th Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Drewniak, who noted the U.S. Senate vote was largely, but not entirely, along partisan lines. “Back at home, after 96 days without a hearing, there is no good and valid reason for the failure to give Anne Patterson the same consideration and deference,” said Drewniak.
The dispute stems from Christie’s nominating Patterson instead of re-nominating former Justice John Wallace, Jr, who would have been eligible to serve two more years until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.
State Supreme Court Justices must be confirmed by the state Senate, and the first step is for the senate president to schedule a hearing.
Derek Roseman, a spokesman for state Senate Democrats, said Sweeney remains committed to leaving Wallace’s seat open for what would have been the remainder of his term. In the meantime, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner can opt to leave Wallace’s seat open or temporarily elevate the most senior Superior Court judge or a retired state Supreme Court justice to the seat. So far, Rabner has left the seat open.
“I can go back to what I said back in May: the Senate president considers this episode closed,” he said. “The irony here is that Republicans are calling for a hearing on Anne Patterson when that’s all we wanted for Justice Wallace.”
Previous coverage:
• Friends, colleagues say both Wallace and Patterson are qualified for N.J. Supreme Court
• Ousted N.J. Supreme Court Justice John Wallace thanks colleagues for support
• N.J. lawyers group honors ousted state Supreme Court Justice John Wallace Jr.
• Gov. Chris Christie nominates lawyer Anne M. Patterson to N.J. Supreme Court
| Governor Christie on decision to replace Justice John Wallace |