Today, Gov. Chris Christie (R-New Jersey) nominated an openly gay Republican mayor and an assistant state attorney general to New Jersey’s highest court.
Phil Kwon, the first Asian-American to sit on the New Jersey Supreme Court, and Bruce Harris, a gay African-American mayor elected to Chatham Borough in November, were nominated Monday.
“I am honored to nominate these two gentlemen,” Christie said at a Statehouse news conference. “I trust the Senate will take into account their extraordinary backgrounds and experience and will give them swift hearings.”
The two nominees will replace Justice John Wallace, Jr. – who did not get reappointed in 2010 – and Justice Virginia Long who will retire in March.
As reported by NJ.com, Christie has aimed to reshape the Supreme Court and will intend to do so by his recent nominations. Christie has previously blamed the Supreme Court for tying his hands on pressing issues in New Jersey such as school district and affordable housing according to the source.
