newjerseynewsroom.com

Names First Assistant A.G. Phillip H. Kwon and Chatham Mayor Bruce Harris

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Kwon would be the first Asian-American to serve on the state’s highest court and Harris is African-American and openly gay.

Harris would replace former Justice John Wallace, who is African-American, and Kwon would replace Justice Virginia Long, who faces mandatory retirement next month.

Christie said his nominations will bring an historic level of diversity to the court.

“I am extraordinarily proud to announce these two historic nominations to the New Jersey State Supreme Court,” the governor said at the Statehouse. “Bruce and Phil are each accomplished and talented individuals with skilled legal minds who are highly respected in the legal community. Just as importantly, each of them has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving their state and communities.

“Additionally, not only do their different backgrounds and career paths bring distinctive and important perspectives to the Supreme Court, Bruce and Phil also capture our state's diversity in a way never before seen in the history of the court," Christie added.

Harris is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience, and Kwon is a former deputy chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division.

Harris will become the third African-American to serve on the court and the first openly gay member justice. Kwon also will become the first immigrant to serve since the 1947 state Constitution created the court.

Additionally, Justice Anne Paterson, nominated by Christie and confirmed, created the first female majority in the history of the Supreme Court, one of only five in the nation.

“Today is an important and historic symbol for New Jersey and our country,” the governor said. “I am proud to be nominating two legal professionals who not only have a passion for this state and a dedication to the legal system, but also capture New Jersey’s great diversity.”

Harris was most recently working at the law firm of Greenberg Traurig and previously at Riker, Danzi, Scherer, Hyland and Perretti. His work has focused primarily on issues of public finance and commercial lending. He graduated magna cum lade from Amherst College and graduated with honors from Boston University Graduate School of Management and Yale Law School.

Harris has a record of service in Chatham Borough, including his recent election as mayor. He previously served as a member of the borough council and on the borough Environmental Commission, the borough Historic Preservation Commission, and on the boards of the UMDNJ Foundation and the New Jersey Health Foundation.