newjerseynewsroom.com

Full Democratic-controlled Senate expected to do the same

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

After nearly 13 months of waiting, the Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee approved Gov. Chris Christie’s nomination of Republican Anne Patterson to the state Supreme Court.

If confirmed by the full Democratic-controlled Senate – an action that is now expected – Patterson, 52, of Mendham, will join the high court in September. She is a products liability attorney with Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti.

Patterson was nominated last May 3 to replace Justice John Wallace, whom Christie declined to reappoint. If renominated by Christie and approved by the upper house, Wallace, 68, the only African-American on the court, would have served two more years before facing mandatory retirement but Christie announced he was nominating Patterson in an attempt to change what he sees as a liberal-leaning court.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) refused to act on Patterson’s nomination until Wallace term would have expired in 2012. However, he and Christie reached a compromise three weeks ago. Christie nominated Patterson to fill the seat held by Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto, who has said he will not seek renomination when his term expires in September.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Christie issued a statement on the approval of the nomination.

“I want to thank the Judiciary Committee and Chairman (Sen. Nicholas) Scutari (D-Union) for their support of an outstanding candidate for our state Supreme Court. In Anne Patterson, we have a principled and experienced attorney of the highest character and professionalism joining the court if confirmed by the full Senate. From the hearing today and since the time of her nomination, the people of New Jersey have learned that Anne possesses all the attributes I will demand of any nomination I make to the Supreme Court, including integrity, compassion and, above all, the necessary credentials and background to serve on our state’s highest court.”

Democrats on the Judiciary Committee questioned Patterson about her philosophical views.

Following the hearing, Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset), a committee member, said "Anne Patterson is more than qualified to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court. She has a rock-solid reputation as one of the brightest legal minds in our state and is highly respected by her peers in the legal community.

"Today's confirmation hearing was a year in the making, but the delay cannot deter from the significance of the moment,” Bateman said. “Ms. Patterson's appointment to the court would mean that for the first time in New Jersey history, we would have a majority of women on the state Supreme Court. New Jersey would become only the fifth state in the nation to have such a balance. Because of Ms. Patterson's education, experience and reputation, I am optimistic she will be confirmed by the full Senate and be the next member of New Jersey's Supreme Court."

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris) added, “After more than a year since her nomination, I am pleased that Ms. Patterson has finally received the opportunity to present her impressive credentials and background to the Senate Judiciary Committee and she has received its approval.

“Ms. Patterson’s diverse experience in the practice of both public and private law makes her an excellent addition to the high court,” DeCroce said. “She has distinguished herself as a person of high character and is a fair-minded attorney. Her understanding of the court’s role as an interpretive body is refreshing and is a hopeful sign that its inclination to legislate will end. I am confident the full Senate will find Ms. Patterson more than fit to serve.”

Jeff Tittel, New Jersey Sierra Club director, said he thought the Judiciary Committee went easy on Patterson.

“The Sierra Club is concerned the Judiciary Committee did not adequately vett Anne Paterson for the Supreme Court,” Tittel said. “She was able to side-step most of the questions and did not give definitive answers. We hope there will be more vetting of this nominee before the full Senate confirmation. The Supreme Court, being the highest court in the state, hears cases on many critical environmental and public health issues and her legal beliefs and how she interprets the laws is critical for the future of New Jersey.

Tittel continued “Given Governor Christie’s rollbacks of key environmental protections we believe there will be a lot of litigation before the Supreme Court in the years ahead. We fear Anne Paterson could become a rubberstamp for Christie’s rollbacks of environmental protections. Her nomination could shift the fundamentals of the court form one that supports the government’s right to regulate the environment and protect citizens from corporate abuses and pollution. New Jersey’s Supreme Court, whether you agree with them or not, has been one of the most respected courts in the country. Now it is becoming more and more about politics and ideology than holding up the law of the land.”