By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
Camden County Superior Court Assignment Judge Fernandez-Vina is officially on his way to the New Jersey Supreme Court, Save Jerseyans, after the State Senate approved his nomination earlier Monday.
Governor Chris Christie celebrated Fernandez-Vina’s ascension:
“I congratulate Judge Faustino Fernandez-Vina on his unanimous and historic confirmation to become the only Hispanic member of the Court. With his extensive experience in both the private and public sector, Judge Fernandez-Vina is eminently qualified to serve on New Jersey’s Supreme Court, and has earned bipartisan support from leaders on both sides of the aisle. I am glad the legislature left politics out of this process and gave Judge Fernandez-Vina the smooth confirmation he deserves.”
Today’s confirmation is a rare victory for Governor Christie on the Supreme Court front; his tactical alliance with Senate President Steve Sweeney and the South Jersey political machine hasn’t extended to judges, a situation which has produced only two (2) new justices (counting Fernandez-Vina), numerous Superior Court vacancies and very little change on the high court during the Republican’s first term despite his concerted efforts.
The NJ GOP’s inability to pick up any state senate seats on November 5th could result in an epic clash for summer 2014 when Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, an old Christie ally from his U.S. Attorney days but who has used his position to block many Christie reforms, is up for reappointment next summer.
