BY RICHARD C. LEONE

COMMENTARY

Government in New Jersey is not nearly as bad as the widely reporter problems might indicate. How could it be? This state would cease to function entirely if it lived up (down?) to its reputation for corruption and incompetence. But one aspect of the state government is actually admired around the country and is properly considered a model for how a state ought to function. It is the state judicial system, which is separated from politics by a tradition of bipartisan appointments and with strong internal governance. The system is often held up as a model to be emulated by other states where judges are elected or courts are otherwise mired in politics. That is why it came as such a shock this week when Governor Christopher Christie announced that he would not reappoint one of the members of the State Supreme Court.