Gov. Christie draws sharp criticism on decision to not reappoint N.J. Supreme Court Justice Wallace

The Star Ledger ^ | May 04, 2010

[Petrosius]

TRENTON-- Gov. Chris Christie sparked a political firestorm Monday with his unprecedented decision to jettison a sitting New Jersey Supreme Court justice, inciting harsh criticism from political opponents and reshaping the relationship between the governor’s office and the state’s highest court.

[Non-Sequitur]

"The court over the course of the last three decades has gotten out of control," he said. "The only way to change the court is to change its members."

Can't fault the logic in that. And he is within his authority as governor to replace a justice once their term is over.

[Joann37]

Christie is really delivering on “change”. Good for him!

[GeronL]

He has no obligation to reappoint this guy. I fail to see the problem.

[Alberta's Child]

Christie has approached his responsibilities as governor with all of the advantages one has when he isn’t a career politician and doesn’t see politics as a “business opportunity” for his own enrichment. He has basically said that he has every expectation of serving only one term, so he can throw all the superficial nonsense out the window and focus on getting the job done well.

[GrannyAnn]

One day, on a different planet, the headline might read:

Many Applaud Christie’s Courageous Stance, Does Not Reappoint Activist Jurist.

And then the article would demonstrate how Wallace was an activist judge that used his position to further HIS political agenda instead of deciding law.

Maybe one day......

[bboop]

A bold move by a courageous man, it seems. Praise God folks are sharpening their swords and stepping up to the line.

[Clemenza]

Sweeney is a slovenly shanty Union Goon left side of the bell curve type. Do South Jerseyites, REALLY want him to represent them? Do I really want to know the answer to that question?

[backwoods-engineer]

If the usual suspects do not like this decision then it must be good.

My thoughts exactly. Don't know about this Justice, but if the media is complaining, it must be a GREAT thing to "jettison" him.

[Impy]

But Democrats and some legal experts said Christie was infringing upon the New Jersey court system’s independence by not renominating a sitting justice, imposing his political will and breaking more than six decades of tradition in state government.

Obviously the state constitution gives him to power to appoint whom he likes. "Traditions" aka constitutional conventions ("convention" in the sense of "custom") have no force of law.

The obstinate State Senate needs a GOP majority so Senate President Stephen Swine-ney (D-Hog Farm) doesn't get to decide who gets a nomination hearing. Christie should leave the seat vacant if Swine-ney and Judiciary Chairman Nicholas Scuzzbucket (D-Sinkhole) refuse to allow a vote to fill it.

[Impy]

Another big fat good move from Christie.

My mom’s liberal cousin is a prep school teacher in NJ. I bet she hate his guts. :D

[B Knotts]

I think I like this guy. He just does what he needs to do, and doesn’t worry about what the Democrats/Media/etc., think about it.

[Lancey Howard]

I was very skeptical about Christie during the campaign, but I was apparently very wrong. This guy has guts and determination. New Jersey did something right.

[GeronL]

lol.

The Gov is rockin da house.

[NYRepublican72]

This is the same corrupt New Jersey Court that rewrote the NJ Constitution to allow Lautenberg to take Bob “Torch” Torricelli’s place on the ballot for NJ Senate in 2002 even though NJ law was crystal clear that the RATS couldn’t replace a candidate so close to an election.

Nice job Christie. I love the liberal “outrage” when all he is doing is exercising his gubernatorial right to reappoint a justice. If they don’t like it, go amend the NJ Constitution.

Otherwise, go pound sand, RATS. As we unfortunately know here at FR, elections have consequences. You lost. Too bad.