Governonr Chris Christie and Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney have reached agreement on how to handle the long-pending Supreme Court nomination of Anne Patterson. The Governor will withdraw her nomination for the seat formerly occupied by Justice John Wallace. Instead, he will nominate her to the seat that will be vacated by Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto in September of this year. Ms. Patterson will receive a confirmation hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee in the near future. Governor Christie will make another nomination for the Wallace seat at a later date.
This compromise was an obvious way to resolve the standoff, especially once Justice Rivera-Soto notified Governor Christie that he did not wish to be reappointed when his initial term expired. It is a fair and reasonable resolution that would, if the nominee is confirmed, avoid the need for two Court seats to be occupied by temporary appointees.
If Anne Patterson is confirmed for the Rivera-Soto seat, there would then be four women on the Court. Although I have not researched the issue, it is doubtful that the highest court in any jurisdiction has ever had a female majority. There would be no minority Justices, however, for the first time since Justice Wallace took the bench. There has been some talk that Governor Christie might nominate a minority candidate for the Wallace seat, and at least one Senator has already stated that he will vote against Anne Patterson due to his concern that the Court would then have no minority representation. Stay tuned.