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New Jersey: The second of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's two state Supreme Court nominees from December of 2011, Bruce Harris, is set to face the state Senate Judiciary Committee on May 31.[1]
If confirmed by the senate, it is believed Harris would be the first openly gay and third African-American Supreme Court justice in the state's history. However, he is in for a tough hearing. In March, Gov. Christie's other nominee, Phil Kwon, was rejected on a near party line vote after a nearly six hour long hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Some political pundits said that Kwon was reject more for political reasons than for merit reasons. Harris could face similar scrutiny.[1][2]
Harris is a graduate of Yale Law School, and has nearly two decades of legal experience, but lacks any judicial experience. Most recently, he was elected mayor of the city of Chatham on a republic ticket, taking office at the beginning of 2012. Harris' supporters say he would bring diversity to the court, not just from his personal life, but also from his work experience.[1]
Harris and Kwon were nominated by Gov. Christie to replace John Wallace, a former Justice
who Christie declined to reappoint when his term expired in 2010, and Virginia Long, a Justice who reached the mandatory retirement age in March.[1]
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