State Sen. Phil Haines (R-Burlington), who took his name out of consideration for a Superior Court judgeship late last year, will get another crack at a seat on the bench. Gov. Chris Christie announced to the state Senate on Thursday that he intends to nominate Haines as a Superior Court judge. Haines, 59, of Springfield, has served in the...
State Sen. Phil Haines. State Sen. Phil Haines (R-Burlington), who took his name out of consideration for a Superior Court judgeship late last year, will get another crack at a seat on the bench.
Gov. Chris Christie announced to the state Senate on Thursday that he intends to nominate Haines as a Superior Court judge.
Haines, 59, of Springfield, has served in the Senate from 2008. He was Burlington County Clerk between 2000 and 2008, and a Burlington County freeholder from 1997 to 1999.
In December, outgoing Gov. Jon Corzine announced his intention to nominate Haines for a seat on Superior Court. But Corzine and Christie were locked in a dispute over lame duck nominations, leading Haines to take his name out of consideration in a letter to Corzine.
“It has long been my strongly-held personal belief that the incoming governor should not be handcuffed with lame duck political appointments that are not his own,” Haines wrote to Corzine in December. “While it has always been and continues to be a lifelong dream of mine to become a judge, I cannot in good faith accept a nomination that conflicts with my beliefs."
After Haines withdrew, speculation persisted that Christie would appoint him to the bench at a later date.
To become a judge, Haines — who has a law degree from Rutgers — will have to be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and confirmed by a vote of the full Senate.
A temporary replacement for Haines in the Senate will be filled by Burlington County Republican Committee members from the 17 towns that make up the 8th Legislative District.