N.J. Supreme Court's Unconstitutional Politics.

Lisa Fleisher & Chris Megerian, "Constitutional Clash Over Pick for High Court," in The Record, May 5, 2010, at p. A1.
Karen Sudol & Deena Yellin, "Libraries Brace for 74% Cut in State Funds: Sharing Deals, Access to Computers May Go," in The Record, May 5, 2010, at p. A1. (Includes law libraries.)
Richard Perez-Pena, "Vow to Block Court Nominee In New Jersey," in The New York Times, May 5, 2010, at p. A25. (Get rid of the bum.)
Mark C. Alexander, "Justice's Denial of Tenure: A Dangerous Precedent," in The Record, May 5, 2010, at p. A13. (Moron.)

"The New Jersey Senate will block Gov. Christopher J. Christie's appointment of a state Supreme Court justice by refusing to vote on whether to confirm the nominee, the Senate president said Tuesday, escalating a partisan clash between the governor and the legislature."

"On Monday, Mr. Christie broke with tradition and said he would not reappoint Justice John E. Wallace Jr., ["pass the doobie on the left hand side!"] the court's only black member, whose seven-year term is about to expire. Since the current system of reviewing justices after seven years was adopted in 1947, no justice had been refused reappointment."

This crisis is about a governor trying to change "business as usual" in Trenton. The New Jersey Supreme Court is a POLITICAL entity in a way that no other state court in America has ever been or is likely to be today. Hence, accusations that Christie is "politicizing" the appointment process (or the court) are hypocritical at best. I believe the N.J. court is also corrupt and unethical. ("Sexual Payoffs For New Jersey Judges.")

Not only is the N.J. Supreme Court political, but it is highly partisan in its politics and fond of "legislating," notably in the disgraceful setting aside of the law to allow an 11th hour substitution by Menendez for Torricelli as Democratic Senate candidate. This was worse -- in the sense that it was more obviously illegal -- than the U.S. Supreme Court's opinion in Bush v. Gore.

This brazen, biased, liberal legislating and politicking, often done incompetently -- as in the well-intended but disastrous Mount Laurel and Abbott decisions -- brings discredit to the adjudicative process in the most disgraced jurisdiction in America. New Jersey's paralysis in the matter that concerns me reveals the levels of corruption and criminality in a system devoured by secrecy, "favors," cronyism, and organized crime. Shame on you, Mr. Rabner. ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State" and "New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System.")

If you care about New Jersey law, the legal profession, judiciary and/or legal ethics, then you should welcome Mr. Christie's efforts and demand that the soiled New Jersey legal system deal with or respond to, say, my critique fairly. By the way, I am anything but a Republican. Any more "errors" to be inserted today, "ladies and gentlemen"? ("Maurice J. Gallipoli and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")

"New Jersey," the Wall Street Journal said, "is America's Italian problem" and "corruption nightmare." ("Jaynee LaVecchia and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in America" and "Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")

"Mr. Christie nominated Anne M. Patterson, a corporate litigator. The governor did not directly criticize Justice Wallace, but he has repeatedly said that he intends to change the historically liberal court, which he has accused of overstepping its authority."

"On Tuesday, the Senate president Stephen M. Sweeney, a Democrat from Gloucester County [Norcross man?] said he would not allow confirmation hearings, a committee vote by the full Senate on Ms. Patterson's nomination."

That's what I call politicizing the judicial appointments process! Is this Sweeney guy "connected"?

"A vacancy does not prevent the court from functioning."

The New Jersey Supreme Court would function much more effectively if all seven justices were "vacant" -- which they may be even when physically present. ("Stuart Rabner and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")

" ... 'This governor has injected politics deeply into it,' Mr. Sweeney said. 'The message to judges was Do as I say or you're not going to be around.' ... "

This is more like the N.J. mafia-Democrat machine's message to the world: "We don't care about nothing!"

The governor's press secretary, Michael Drewniak, said in a statement: "The Senate's constitutional duty is to provide 'advice and consent' through a hearing for the nominee, followed by an up-or-down vote in the full Senate. That's all we ask. So we would be surprised if the Senate president is willing to simply abandon the New Jersey Constitution and refuse to consider a qualified judicial nominee.'"

These are your elected officials in New Jersey. Are you proud of them in the Senate and Democrat clubhouses? Have they done a great job for New Jersey? I don't think so. I am not overwhelmed with admiration for the so-called "ethics" of these self-styled "superiors" of the likes of you and me. Are you?