Quote of the Day: "We're not gonna know how big for a while"

What I'd like to know (0.00 / 0)

Since Patterson apparently hasn't spoken on the public record on any of the hot button issues being discussed, how do we know she will change the court?  What did she tell Christie, and what did he ask her?  Interesting questions to pursue if she gets to a hearing.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Tue May 04, 2010 at 19:41:32 PM UTC

Awful article (4.00 / 1)

That article was awful, from the opening sentence which bought into the right wing "judicial activist" meme.

And how can any credible journalist put Steven Lonegan in a story about judicial appointments, side by side with law professors, as a he said/she said, and not state as a fact that he is a certified right wing nut who represents a tiny faction?

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by: Winston Smith @ Tue May 04, 2010 at 20:33:54 PM UTC

I think we are soon (0.00 / 0)

going to find out how big a day it is:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.s...

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by: SmartyJones @ Tue May 04, 2010 at 20:44:21 PM UTC

Excellent! (0.00 / 0)

It's good to finally see the legislature assume its rightful role as a co-equal branch of state government and see them stand up to the bullying and partisan actions of the governor.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

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by: deciminyan @ Tue May 04, 2010 at 21:05:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Anne Patterson = Harriet Miers (0.00 / 0)

Same lack of qualification, same executive overreach.

Add in the way that the Governor disrespected Justice Wallace and this adds up to a major, major mistake forhim.  

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by: kevmor @ Tue May 04, 2010 at 20:52:27 PM UTC

Disagree (4.00 / 2)

Harriet Miers is well, just plain dumb.

I looked at Patterson's CV, posted in (I think) nj.com.  It's fairly impressive, even if one does not care for commercial litigators.

What is so problematic about Ms. Patterson is the odious cases she handled.  Most commercial and even products cases are not particularly controversial. One company sues another over an issue that does not much affect the public.  If a plaintiff has a good products case the attorney settles.  If not, the attorney fights like Hell.

The cases Ms. Patterson took, however, appear to be big corporations versus the people.  I mean, is there anything good you can say about lead paint?  For how long have tobacco companies lied to us about the harmfulness of smoking?

Given her lack of a judicial history I was wondering what types of questions the judiciary committee would ask her. It would seem to come down to her campaign contributions and the clients she has represented.

She seems smart enough to parry any campaign contribution questions.  As for the cleints she represented, she could say well, that was just a job.  I believe in stare decisis,

I think she more resembles our own home grown Justice Alito.

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by: SmartyJones @ Tue May 04, 2010 at 22:16:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Christie's having his cannolis (0.00 / 0)

And eating them too.  He can have it both ways.  He can tell his rightwing base he did what he promised, and then blame the Dems for blocking it.

The seat will stay vacant indefinitely, and Christie will use it as an issue to get the wingnuts like Paul Mulshine and Steve Lonegan to get off his back (which I doubt they'll ever do anyway because they're too egotistical).

It's also a win-win for Christie because by keeping the seat vacant he doesn't have to worry that she turns out to be another Harry Blackmun, John Paul Stevens or David Sutor.  She has given money to Democrats, and most of her Republican donations went to the likes of Christie Whitman, Diane Allen and Bill Baroni.  Hardly the stuff Tea Party dreams are made of.

http://christiegonewild.blogsp...

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by: ken bank @ Tue May 04, 2010 at 21:13:05 PM UTC

I'm not sure that Christie looks especially good going against the advice of the sainted Tom Kean, Sr. (0.00 / 0)

Tom Kean Sr. holds the same spiritual place among state Republicans that the sainted Ronald Reagan held for Republicans nationally, and Governor Christie does not look good ignoring his advice.  It makes Christie look like the bully that he is and no one, not even Paul Mulshine likes a dictator.  

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by: FormerBureaucrat @ Wed May 05, 2010 at 16:32:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Depends on which Republican you ask. (0.00 / 0)

I've heard a lot of Republicans who don't think much of Kean at all.  He's considered a "RINO" in many circles. Of course, Christie couldn't have won the election with just those voters. But they are a good sized part of his base.

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by: Bill W @ Wed May 05, 2010 at 17:06:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's not over till it's over (4.00 / 1)

All Supreme Court nominations go to the state Senate for a confirmation vote. But Democrats, furious over Christie's decision, said they may not hold hearings on nominee Anne Patterson. Wallace's seven-year term ends May 20. If he is not replaced by then, Rabner can appoint a retired Supreme Court justice or use the most senior appellate division judge to fill in on a temporary basis......http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/qa_nj_gov_christies_controvers.html

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by: speedkillsu @ Tue May 04, 2010 at 22:10:51 PM UTC

It's called having an independent judiciary. (0.00 / 0)

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by: FormerBureaucrat @ Wed May 05, 2010 at 16:28:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]