Codey calls on Rivera-Soto to resign - immediately

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Jan 05, 2011 at 11:56:22 AM EST

Calling him "not fit to sit on the court any longer", Sen. Dick Codey today sent a letter to New Jersey's reluctant Supreme Court Justice, calling on him to resign, and do so immediately.

Last month, Rivera-Soto declared he would refuse to engage in court rulings. This week, he announced he won't seek renomination when his term expires later this year. Not that he'd have a chance in hell of getting that nomination without a howl of public protest.  Codey's letter is harsh, and the harshness is deserved; what else do you say to a guy with a high-paying public job he categorically refuses to do? Quoting Sen. Codey's letter (read it here):

Your continued presence in what you have made the state's most luxurious and high-profile no-show job simply does nothing to serve the best interests of the public.
[snip]
As each day goes by, your actions create more and more problems for the people of New Jersey and the justice system. I ask you to do the honorable thing now and resign your seat so that we can continue with the business of the courts in the dignified manner which you have failed to uphold.

Codey's letter signals - again - the Senate's willingness to compromise on Gov. Christie's pick Anne Patterson, suggesting she could be considered for Rivera-Soto's job, once he's out of it.