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Politics

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)

1accord
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 8:44pm
Christie hasn’t been the same since he went to the hospital back in July 2011.

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laserblast
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 5:00pm
First a Muslim Judge, now a Gay one. Kudos to the RINO!

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screamineagle
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 2:20pm
It’s High Time To Draft Allen West,,,, These Rhino, Establishment Republicrats Are Sickening… Romney And His Ilk Of Christie, Ingraham, Rove, And All The Establishment McCain Types… Republicrats Are Going To Get Exactly What They Got In 2008,,, Same Type Candidate They Are Anointing,,, Romneycrat….. They Just Want To Take The Senate,, Know They Have No Chance With These Candidates For The Presidency,,, But They Do NOT Want Someone Like Allen West. He Is Not An “Insider” “PC” Concious Yes Man… THAT Is Why The Republicrats HATE HIm, And ANYONE Who Won’t Roll Over To Their Aisle Crossing PC “Stuff”…. Going to Be Fun Though,, What With The PAC For Newt Getting Cash Infusion To Bring To Light The Things McCain Said About Romney In 2008 Race,,, True Then,, True Now… Sweet,,,,, All Going Down In Flames,, And Romney Deserves It,,, Oh,, And Glenn Beck,, Keep Throwing Those Rocks,,, I’m Sure There is A Candidate Somewhere That You Think Is Perfect,,,, not…..Keep Throwing Those Rocks

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blazingaway
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 1:58pm
He becoming as dumb as his ass is big.
What a disappointment, you mean to tell me there was no one else who was just, if not more qualified?
This was nothing more than him playing progressive politics.
Bend over, bend over, bend over …

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Dan
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:35am
I stated Romney and Christie were bad news years ago and nothing has changed.

Ron Paul wants to legalize drugs and ignore the worlds threats against us, enough said.

As of now, Rick and Newt are worth looking at compared to Romney and Paul.

Don’t let the media pick our candidate again. WAKE UP PEOPLE!

RUN SARAH RUN!!!

Dan

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American Mensch
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:13am
In many ways the things they are writing here are no better that the filth the left flings around. It is based on pure ignorance and hate. Reason does not seem to enter into any of these poor soul’s minds. It is really sad and frightening how some people will never learn. Hate begets hate in the end.

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American Mensch
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 11:10am
Oh boy, some of the posters on this story are hateful, nasty people. Why the hell shouldn’t a man who is qualified and happens to be gay become a state court justice? This is one of the reasons the left assails the far right of the Republican Party. There is no logic or conscience in any of these vile comments. This gay man is still a MAN. God created him and God will dole out whatever justice he may have coming for his actions in his life now. But so will some of you fork tongued devils, who would spew such nasty filth in describing a person you don’t even know, and as far as I know, did nothing to any of you. You people make me sick. You like to talk about the horrible things that are said and written by the left, but maybe you should all take a good hard look at yourselves too. People who live in hateful glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

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SenorStrange
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:31am
It’s a good thing Christie didn’t run for president. I would NEVER vote for a man who appoints a homosexual pervert to stand in judgement over others. Romney had better speak out against this action or I will NEVER vote for him for president.

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bharris0
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:23am
He is just another progressive RINO, trying to masquerade as a conservative.

Remember this if he runs for a federal office.

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vaman
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 9:22am
This article is awesome and the Gov did the right thing. More enjoyable is reading comments from the Blaze freaks going nuts because a gay guy was appointed a judge. You might as well get used to it. More and more people are becoming less bigoted and don’t really care who someone sleeps with. Hold on to your archaic beliefs and watch the world pass you by. Also, reading many (not all) of these posts really shows that christians are hateful to people that don’t follow their belief system. I’m sure god approves of your behavior.

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FreedomOne
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 8:36am
Isn’t that Sulu from star trek?

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let us prey
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 7:40am
First he appoints a moose limb with terror ties, now openly gay man as State Supreme Ct judge. Next the transgender version of the Hamburgular Willl be appointed to the state prosecutors office.

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SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 7:00am
Don’t you just love all those conservatives from back east? The only thing they are conservative about is making sure they keep the “Old Guard” Republican money (elections) going their way.

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Calcman
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 5:17am
His nose doesn’t grow. He just gets fatter and fatter. Big pile of crap.

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- let us prey
  Posted on January 24, 2012 at 7:57am
  Lol
  
  Report this comment
Concerned Green Beret
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 3:59am
Just another progressive jackass posing as a conservative. Damn I can’t stand these weak little pieces of garbage!!!!

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Gypsy123
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 1:52am
That is why there is not trust among the people. The politicians say one thing do another.

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Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 11:38pm
Is Ann Coulter a ****?

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sirocco78
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 11:38pm
This is because he is not a conservative. Hate to break the news, but this is the reason why the establishment republican’s had such stiffies for him to get in the race.

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TerryDo
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 11:28pm
techengineer11
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 7:28pm
TerryDo
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 7:13pm
Just because Governor Christie does not believe in gay marriage does not mean that he does not believe in gays having careers and lives
… geeezzz

Are you saying that you desire to have Homosexuals making laws for the nation? Seriously?
**************************

If the judge was a female and pro-abortion you would make the same sentiments, except it would sound like this……

‘Are you saying that you desire to have a heteroseual female making laws for the nation? Seriously?

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Tom Dooley
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 11:13pm
Next time the people of NJ should vote for Steve Lonergan the real conservative!

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supressorgrid
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 11:02pm
There is a big difference between conservatives appointing judges that happen to be gay, and libs appointing judges BECAUSE they are gay.

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Live_Free_orDie
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:55pm
Pandering POS….RINO…Anti Second Amendment…Fat Bully

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TimeForReason
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:53pm
Christie is a fat slob liberal who is hiding behind his twinkie’s and ding-dongs.

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searching for the Truth
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:50pm
Well, maybe he can appoint a monkey next and help Darwin out.

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BONETRAUMA
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:29pm
the round man has spoken

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