Christie Nominates Two to Supreme Court

Kwon worked for Christie at the US Attorney's office (0.00 / 0)

Don't know his political affiliation.

Harris is also African-American.

Smart political moves for a general election for president in the future.  Also think this makes it more likely that he was veto a SSM bill.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 17:40:29 PM UTC

Kwon is an independent (0.00 / 0)

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 17:44:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Biographical Info. on Kwon and Harris (0.00 / 0)

Phillip H. Kwon

Born in South Korea on May 6, 1967, resides in Closter, NJ and has an "Unaffiliated" party registration as of 5/12/2011.

1989, B.A. in History, Georgetown University
1994, J.D., Rutgers School of Law-Newark, Editor of the Rutgers Law Review
1994-97, Associate at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae in Newark, N.J
1997-99, law clerk to the Honorable Harold A. Ackerman, a Federal District Court Judge sitting in Newark, N.J.
2000-10, Assistant U.S. Attorney of both the Special Prosecutions Division and the Criminal Division with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey
2005, was named Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit where he supervised the Office's gang prosecutors.
2006, was named Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division where he directly oversaw the Commercial Crimes Unit, the Terrorism Unit, and the Violent Crimes Unit.
January 2010-Present, First Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the NJ Attorney General.

Bruce A. Harris

Born on January 4, 1951, resides in Chatham Borough, NJ and is a registered Republican as of 03/17/1982.

1973, B.A., magna cum laude in Black Studies, Amherst College
1973-81, Manager at New England Telephone
1979, MBA, Boston University Graduate School of Management
1981-89, District Manager at AT&T
1992, J.D., Yale Law School
1992-2005, Associate Attorney at Riker, Danzi, Scherer, Hyland and Perretti in Morristown, NJ.
2005-Present, Associate Attorney at Greenberg Traurig in Florham Park, NJ.
2012-Present Mayor of the Borough of Chatham, NJ.  Was elected on November 8, 2011 with 57.7% of the vote (1,211 votes) over Democrat Nelson Vaughan III who received 42.3% of the vote (889 votes).

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by: zi985 @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 20:46:04 PM UTC

More info. on Kwon and Harris (0.00 / 0)

For more information on Phillip Kwon visit here: http://nj.gov/oag/oag/faag.html and http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsrele...  Correction: *Kwon served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey from Sept. 1999-Jan. 2010 (during the entirety of the 7 years Chris Christie served as a U.S. Attorney from 2002-08).

For more information on Bruce Harris visit: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Br...  Addition to Biography: *Harris served as a Council Member on the Chatham Borough Town Council from 2004-2012 and served as its President in 2007.

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by: zi985 @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 21:27:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Correct Links to Kwon and Harris Info. (0.00 / 0)

Kwon link: http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsrele...

Harris link: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Br...

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by: zi985 @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 21:32:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

this just neutered Sweeney ..... (0.00 / 0)

Sweeney puts off posting the ME bill 2 years ago knowing Corzine would sign it ...but Sweeney wanted to make this a issue with the fat man knowing he would always veto it.So at the expense of some very good people Sweeney rolls the dice while Christie covered all bets and Sweeney  comes up snake-eyes .  

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by: True Sue @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 20:51:32 PM UTC

How is this bad for Sweeney? (0.00 / 0)

Is it any wonder why I use the word " haters" so often on this site!

Christie nominates two judges and this is a defeat for Sweeney?

The first asian american and the first openly gay black man are put up and this is a defeat for Sweeney?

Some of you are just plain pathetic.......  

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by: firstamend07 @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 21:16:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Amazingly enough, I agree (0.00 / 0)

This has nothing to do with Sweeney, whose only path to redemption with the statewide progressive community will come if he can deliver an override of Christie's ME veto.

Obviously, there is no chance that either of these nominees will be rejected, but if marriage equality is not achieved legislatively, is it in any way, shape, or form possible that Harris, the court's first openly gay member, could rule against marriage equality?

If Harris and Kwon turn out to be deciding votes for marriage equality, even if it takes a couple of years more, would that erase Christie's veto in the minds of both marriage equality opponents and proponents?  Could it come back to haunt Christie if he wins re-election in 2013 and runs for President in 2016?

I wonder if the best case scenario for both Christie and Sweeney is a veto override.  As Mitt Romney's Presidential campaign continues its meltdown and the 2012 election cycle becomes less relevant to Christie as a result, I wonder if Republicans who want to vote for marriage equality are going to face any pressure to vote against an override.

Does this make Christie a marriage equality champion?  Probably not, but it does make me wonder what he really thinks about the issue.  At his core, he is probably more progressive than Sweeney, who has no core.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 22:43:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Longetivity of service on the NJ Supreme Court (0.00 / 0)

All Justices on the New Jersey Supreme Court serve for an initial 7 years, after which the Governor may choose to nominate them for tenure.  Also, all NJ Supreme Court Justices must retire by age 70.  This means that Phillip Kwon would be reviewed to receive tenure by the Governor and the NJ State Senate in Feb./Mar. 2019 and could serve on the NJ Supreme Court until May 6, 2037.  Bruce Harris wold be reviewed to receive tenure by the Governor and the NJ State Senate in Feb./Mar. 2019 and could serve on the NJ Supreme Court until January 4, 2021.  

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by: zi985 @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 20:56:58 PM UTC

Bruce Harris (0.00 / 0)

Bruce Harris represents banks, specialty finance companies and other lenders and borrowers. He also has wide-ranging experience in public finance including as bond counsel on over 50 transactions with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, and the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, which is one way that he is known within the Christie administration. His specialty tends to have conservative professionals.

He also has served as 1) President of the Eric Johnson House, a  transitional facility for people with HIV, 2) member, Planning Board, Environmental Commission Historic Preservation Commission; 3)  Member, Morris County Open Space Preservation Trust, 2007-2008; 4) Trustee, The Foundation of UMDNJ, 2009 to Date; 5) Trustee, New Jersey Health Foundation, 2009 to Date.

The above data is from Martindale.com which provides further information about him here. An interesting guy who may be hard to pigeonhole.  

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." - Sen. Ted Kennedy

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by: Bill Orr @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 21:05:11 PM UTC

marriage equality? education? (0.00 / 0)

Assuming these two men get confirmed by the Senate, does anyone know how they would affect cases about education and marriage equality?

My first assumption would be that they'd share Gov. Christie's philosophy on both issues, despite one of them being gay.

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by: southernbluedog @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 21:32:08 PM UTC

Let's Make sure the NJ Senate Judiciary Committee properly vet Kwon and Harris (0.00 / 0)

Southernbluedog makes a good point.  The NJ State Judiciary Committee, which has the opportunity to ask questions during the confirmation hearings of Phillip Kwon and Bruce Harris, should ask their views on education issues and marriage equality.  Hopefully Senators Nicholas Scutari and Nia Gill, who serve as the Chairman and Vice-Chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee respectively, should ask them about these issues and more.  I also hope the other 6 Democratic Senators that serve on the Judiciary Committee (including Blue Jersey's own Loretta Weinberg) make sure these two nominees are properly vetted before Kwon and Harris serve a potential 25 and 9 years, respectively, on the NJ Supreme Court.

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by: zi985 @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 21:45:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Meaningless (0.00 / 0)

You can ask all the questions you want.  They're not going to tip their hand.  They'll make broad blanket general statements.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 22:23:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree, they won't talk (0.00 / 0)

They won't comment on marriage equality or education for one reason or another. Their most likely excuses will be that they don't want to comment on current cases going through the system.

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by: southernbluedog @ Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 05:19:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Here's Christie... (0.00 / 0)

He said he did not discuss specific cases with the judges, but made sure that they "understand the true nature of a court's role in a three branch system."

I assume that means they agree with Christie's view of what the Court's role should be.  Which is, pretty much, to stay out of his way.  

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by: Bill W @ Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 22:26:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wait a minute (4.00 / 1)

Christie has been very specific about getting judges who will overturn the school funding formula. Now he expects us to believe it didn't come up?

Come on...

http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com

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by: Jersey Jazzman @ Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 00:04:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Believe me.... (0.00 / 0)

....we will vet these two candidates. Let me put a slightly different spin: the Governor would nominate an openly gay man to the highest court in our state and then deny that same man equal rights to marry? Interesting.

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by: Senator Loretta Weinberg @ Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 01:54:18 AM UTC

Why not? (0.00 / 0)

There are both Democrats and Republicans who have no qualms about allowing gay men and women to fight and die for their country, but do not believe that they should have the right to marry.  It is much less of a leap of logic to believe that someone has the correct ideological and judicial temperament to be a Supreme Court justice but should not have the right to marry.

If it is likely that these justices will provide deciding votes for marriage equality at some point in the future, my guess is that Christie would prefer to have his veto overidden, which could be perceived by a 2016 Republican Presidential primary voter as a sign of weakness, but would still not be nearly as disqualifying as if Christie signed the legislation outright or appointed the justices who ruled in favor of marriage equality.

My prediction is that if Mitt Romney's Presidential aspirations continue their meltdown, Christie is going to be less likely to twist Republican arms to vote against an override.  So as crazy as this might seem, I think that anyone who supports marriage equality should root for Newt Gingrich to continue to do well in the Republican Presidential nominating process.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 02:41:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

of course (0.00 / 0)

I have no doubt that Gov. Christie would appoint an openly gay man to the Supreme Court who will rule against marriage equality. It will prove that Gov. Christie can appoint justices who make rulings based on the rule of law - independent of their personal beliefs, cultures, lifestyles.

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by: southernbluedog @ Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 05:23:57 AM UTC

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I don't think... (0.00 / 0)

...that it is likely that Steven Goldstein would have responded as positively to the decision as he did if he thought that there was any chance that the first openly gay member of the New Jersey State Supreme Court would rule against marriage equality.  I think that if he thought that there was the slightest chance that Harris could turn out to be that much of an anomaly, his response would be far more guarded.

As I have written elsewhere, I think that this decision could mean that Republican supporters of marriage equality will not be pressured by Christie to vote against an override of his veto as this would be less damaging for his long-term Presidential prospects than if he signed the legislation or if his nominees ruled in favor of marriage equality.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 05:52:10 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

A question you should ask Bruce Harris? (0.00 / 0)

Senator Weinberg you should ask Bruce Harris this question at the Judiciary confirmation hearing: Do you believe you should have the right to marry your partner of 32 years, Marc Boisclair, in the State of New Jersey?

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by: zi985 @ Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 02:17:02 AM UTC

I assume (0.00 / 0)

by posing that question, you know his partner and how long they've been together. Is that so?

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by: Senator Loretta Weinberg @ Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 03:58:14 AM UTC

To answer your question Senator Weinberg... (0.00 / 0)

I don't know either Bruce Harris or his partner Marc Boisclair personally but I did some fact-checking and research today to find out who Harris' partner is and how long they've been together.  Here are a few sources in the media that have made mention of Marc Boisclair and the fact that he has been the partner of Harris for 32 years:

1) In this article from the Chatham Courier on January 3, 2012 it mentions that Harris was "sworn into his four-year term with partner Marc Boisclair holding a Harris family Bible circa the 1880s..." and also has a photo of both of them together; http://newjerseyhills.com/chat...  

2) In this article from CBSPhilly.com it says "His partner of 32 years, Marc Boisclair, attended the announcement.  'I also want to thank my partner Mark for his nearly 32 years of love and support,' said Harris."  You can also see a video of Christie introducing Harris at the Governor's office this morning with Boisclair standing by his side; http://philadelphia.cbslocal.c...

3) In this article from DailyRecord.com it says that "He [Harris] was joined at the Monday news conference by his partner of 32 years, Marc Boisclair."; http://www.dailyrecord.com/art...

Marc Boisclair is a Sales Associate (Real Estate Broker) at Coldwell Banker in Madison, NJ specializing in residential marketing in Morris, Union, Essex and Somerset counties.  He is also a freelance journalist, former President and seven-year board member (2003-2009) of Kaleidoscope of Hope, a not-for-profit organization that raises money for research and awareness in the fight against ovarian cancer, and currently serves as a member of the Traffic Safety committee in Chatham Borough.  You can see his biographical information here: http://www.coldwellbankermoves...

Bruce Harris directly mentioned today that Marc Boisclair has been his partner of 32 years and all the news sources are saying the same thing so I think it's safe to say that it is indeed true.

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by: zi985 @ Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 05:27:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]