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Despite Opposing Gay Marriage, Christie Appoints NJ’s First Gay Supreme Court Judge

Jan. 23, 2012 6:27pm Christopher Santarelli

Christie Appoints Bruce Harris as New Jersey State Supreme Court Judge

The often unorthodox New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has surprised supporters and opponents alike with the announcement Monday that he will nominate an openly gay justice for the state’s highest court. The Star-Ledger reports that if confirmed, Bruce Harris, one of two candidates nominated by Gov. Christie Monday, would become the third African-American and first openly gay New Jersey State Supreme Court Judge.

“I am honored to nominate these two gentlemen,” Gov. Christie said at a Statehouse news conference Monday. “I trust the Senate will take into account their extraordinary backgrounds and experience and will give them swift hearings.”

Gov. Christie’s second nominee, Phil Kwon, was a U.S. attorney for New Jersey and would be the state’s first Asian-American and immigrant justice. The Star-Ledger notes that Gov. Christie has emphasized that he wants to remake the Supreme Court, which he blames for tying his hands on such issues as financing poor school districts and affordable housing.

“In Bruce Harris and Phil Kwon we have two people of extraordinary legal background, of great judgement and skill, and folks who I think are going to make us very proud that they’re justices,” Gov. Christie said. “But also, I’m very cognizant of the fact that we have a diverse state, and our court needs to express and reflect that diversity and the experience that that diversity brings.”

Gov. Christie said that nominating the third African-American and first openly gay justice was an “extra benefit, but if that’s all he brought to the table he wouldn’t be standing here today. He brings an extraordinary legal background as well.”

Harris is the Republican mayor of Chatham and graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College, then with honors from Boston University Graduate School of Management. He earned a law degree from Yale.

Steven Goldstein, Chair and CEO of the state’s largest LGBT rights organization Garden State Equality, wrote in an official post on the organizations Facebook account that when Gov. Christie told him the news on his cell phone Monday “I told the Governor right then and there, you could have picked me up off the floor.”

“When I met with Governor Christie in 2010 at his request, he told me that though we would differ on some issues like marriage equality, he viewed the LGBT community as an important part of New Jersey, and that he wanted his Administration to have a good working relationship with Garden State Equality,” Goldstein writes. “That has been the case every step of the way.”

The news comes the day before the Democratic Legislature holds its first hearing on a bill allowing same-sex marriage, which The Philadelphia Inquirer reports is its top priority of the year. Gov. Christie has been supportive of civil unions in the past but opposed to gay marriage.

“Right now all it is is a bill like hundreds of bills pending in the Legislature right now,” Christie said Tuesday of the same-sex marriage bill. “I’m not someone who changes positions with the grace of a ballerina, so I wouldn’t be all atwitter in expectation.”

Whether Christie supports the bill or not, The Wall Street Journal reports that New Jersey Democrats believe they are within spitting distance of securing enough support to override his veto.

Christie has made surprising judicial appointments in the past. Over the summer, Christie vehemently chastised those who criticized his appointment of a Muslim judge.

Video of Gov. Christie’s remarks on the latest appointments:

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Comments (137)

LMW
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:04pm
Obama is laughing so hard he will fall down and hurt himself I hope. We Republicans can now choose between Gangich (Rino & Adulter), Ron Paul (Whacko & nut job) or Romney (Rino & closet Gay). The Republican Party is dead as far as I’m concerned. I will vote for Obama so the Civil War will began sooner. (January 2013 I hope). I have been a Republican my whole voting life but now I am nothing. It is said to vote for any Republican is better then another 4 years of Obama but at least with a Obama win the war within will come sooner if he does win. We need a complete house cleaning as the infestation has taken both Repubs and Demos. As the saying goes we have been “Screwed and Tatooed.

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- The Third Archon
  Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:20pm
  LOL–fascists say as much. How do you presume to spot the contamination–I suppose god told you? You know what I can’t wait for–2012 when Obama is reelected and DOESN’T unveil his master plan to become dictator of the United States and DOESN’T start a Civil War, because that’s a laughably outlandish belief–besides which, who will fight in your civil war? You and thirty angry geriatrics? You think that anywhere near a significant enough portion of the American populace is so desperate, their passions so stoked, that they are willing to risk EVERYTHING, life, liberty, and property, to fight a war of insurrection, especially when Obama DOESN’T name himself emperor in 2012? Utter nonsense.
  
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The Third Archon
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:52pm
Chris Christie has more balls the almost the entirety of the rest of the Republican and Democrat Parties combined.

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Chappy123
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:47pm
Hey Colter!

This is your boy!!!!

RINO RINO RINO.

I would have had more respect for him had he not flipped flopped on the issue.

What-a-turd

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Magyar
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:42pm
He’s a BIG liar (pun intended). Can there be any doubt that he’s a political hack?…He just happens to be wearing a Republican hat this year… I am SO glad that he didn’t run for the presidency…He’s just as bad as Obama….

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mchurchwell
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:41pm
What does his appointment have ANYTHING to do with not approving of gay marriage?!

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LoneRanger
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:34pm
Learn what homosexuality is and why we should be concerned:
http://www.factsaboutyouth.com
http://www.homosexuality101.com
http://www.parentsofgaychildren.org
http://www.narth.com
http://www.pathinfo.org

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Kathleen3
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:14pm
Aligning himself with Muslims shortly after taking office; failing to address the out-of-control illegal aliens that cost NJ taxpayers billions of dollars a year for services the state provides to them; his “green energy” endorsements; and now his pandering to yet more special interest groups, albeit by using/abusing the highest court in the state.

I fear Christie is more interested in hearing “Hail to the Chief” as he enters a room than he is in enjoining with other elected officials in singing “God Bless America.”

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AJAYW
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:09pm
He is a liberal at heart– if you were to rinder him out you would have enough oil for your car for a year or two

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COFemale
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:02pm
Those who can’t separate a person’s sexual orientation from their qualifications is a blithering idiot.

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COFemale
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:59pm
So gays don’t have a right to work? Are you gay basher’s or pretend gay basher’s on this site total morons and really as ignorant as you post?

Just because Christie does not support gay marriage doesn’t mean they aren’t fit to work? I swear you Liberals are more out there and you need to quite smoking weed or snorting cocaine; your brains have done left the building.

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toto
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:41pm
This shows how duplicitous Christi is. How can you espouse family values, be against gay marriage and appoint a Supreme Court Justice that is all but certain to not support any of these things. Just another liberal in a very big sheep’s clothing.

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jsDway
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:33pm
RINO, RINO, RINO! Rush is right – the establishment RINOS are in a panic! What in the world does this prove except that Christie is after the queer vote, they aren’t gay!

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Salamander
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:21pm
Hooray for Gov. Christie, who can tell the difference between the sacrament of marriage between a man and a woman and the need NOT to let his feelings on THAT subject contaminate his judgement on the appointment of a presumedly qualified judge, who happens to be gay! THIS is the kind of example we need in our political leaders–the ability to stand conviction on an issue, without letting that conviction creep into an independent decision! (I’m not thrilled about the potential bias of that judge in a decisision-making role, but perhaps that appointee can differentiate between a personal preference and the unbiased interpretation of the law! I’d certainly expect nothing less!)

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lancevd
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:20pm
We’re talkin’ a progressive Republican wormb@g here………whatya ‘spect?

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lancevd
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:17pm
Come on!…..Did you expect something different from a progressive Republican wormb@g?

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Lloyd Drako
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:17pm
Why “despite?” Appointing a homosexual judge, if he is properly qualified otherwise, is not the same as endorsing the whole “gay agenda,” if there is such a thing.

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- toto
  Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:47pm
  Where would you place your bet, if your life depended on it, this person would rule on gay marriage? Doesn’t it make sense to nominate someone that shares your supposed values? I don’t want gays persecuted, but I don’t want them ruling in favor of special laws for gays that require changing the very definition of words.
  
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Wally P
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:09pm
By their deeds you shall know them!

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RockInHat
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:08pm
Newt will not be appointing homosexuals to the Supreme Court.

Will Mitt say anything about Christie’s latest appointment? I hope true conservatives vote in Florida. It looks like the masses are seeing the moderate/liberal romney loud and clear now.

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Robert999
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:06pm
It should be clear to all by now that Christie (and Romney) is not Conservative. The question now should be is he really a Republican? I believe Christie may be a crypto-Communist positioned inside the New Jersey Republican establishment to destroy from within the Republican Party and our Christian, capitalist, free enterprise American constitutional system.

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semby
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:01pm
What an extreme disappointment. He no longer will get my vote. He can’t bully his way out of this.

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dgremark12
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 7:54pm
I knew this their was something I didn’t like about this guy! HE IS A PROGRESSIVE!

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NarnianWarrior
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 7:53pm
Aha! Looks like my instincts were right. When it comes to calling someone “progressive”, which is literally another code word for “liberal”, you don’t have to look any further. Christie is the new punk of the Gay Activist Agenda, so the real picture is starting to emerge. Clothed in the sheepskin of conservatism, this wolf managed to get elected to office. Now, he’s doing whatever he can to promote and jam homosexuality down our throats, just like Jerry Brown is doing here in California. Social conservatives beware of these Wolves! This chubby slimebag from Jersey hoodwinked you once, so don’t let him hookwink you again by trying to persuade you to vote for Romney. These two came out of the same mold and power is the only thing they care about. If it means selling out to a bunch of sunshine boys to further their careers and personal agendas, they’ll do it.

TRADITIONAL FAMILIES FOR NEWT!!

Take that Beck…………you Worm! I thought you were on our side? How much has the Gay power brokers paid you to back these sleazebags as you continue assault Newt? Attacking Newt as a progressive in light of this is really despicable on your part.

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NOTvotingforRomney
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 7:52pm
Look on the GOOD SIDE. It will be FUN to watch the Judge FART in the court room.

Rep. Barney Frank Farts on Live TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73CzXJsIatk

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- Salamander
  Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:31pm
  That was funny, but this is HILARIOUS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcQflrT304g
  
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girlnurse
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 7:50pm
That a boy! Thats the way to be a big fat RINO-PROGRESSIVE!

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- NOTvotingforRomney
  Posted on January 23, 2012 at 7:57pm
  RINO VOTER HYPOCRISY STRIKES AGAIN.
  
  RInos complained that the BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER theory applied to Obama for hanging out with Bill Ayers and Rev Wright etc and so his crap friends mean HE is crap.
  
  Yet when ROMNEY hangs out with FAT PROGRESSIVE RHINO’s, the RINO voters say OH THAT DOESN’T MEAN ROMNEY IS A PROGRESSIVE RINO.
  
  I have news for you – YES IT DOES.
  
  And it also means that since Obama is not qualified to be constitutionally president because he father was born in Kenya, NEITHER is Romney because he father was born in Mexico and god only knows where his mother was born. WHAT HYPOCRITES RINOs are for spitting on Obama on this and sticking your heads in the sand when it comes to YOUR candidate.
  
  Romneycide
  A GOP engineered, Romney coronation will forever be known as “Romneycide”
  http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/41294
  
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VoteRightDammit
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 7:43pm
As Judge Vaughn Walker (Prop 8) so clearly showed —

pretty much NO gay individual is capable of separating his/her professional duties from his/her activist agenda.

As such, NO gay individual should be appointed to ANY position of authority or influence over ANY other person. Their lifestyle choice is simply a disqualifier.

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