Harriet Miers

An apparent conflict exists between the Governor of New Jersey and the Chairman of the State Senate Judiciary Committee, both Democrats, over the role of the Senate in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices.  Gov. Jon Corzine says that "providing advice and consent on the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice...should not be a shot in the dark," and that it is "vital that we learn everything we can about... (the) judicial philosophy" of a nominee.

But State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), in response to a request from Republicans on his committee seeking three days of hearings on the renomination of Associate Justice Barry Albin, says that while he'll provide "ample time time to discuss with Justice Albin the pertinent information to his re-nomination to the Supreme Court."  But Sarlo says he will "not allow for the politicizing of this appointment, because, frankly, I believe that Justice Albin, and the people of New Jersey, deserve better."

"Our judicial system is designed in such a way to insulate judges from politics," Sarlo said in a statement posted on PolitickerNJ.com today.  "For this very reason, judges are appointed, as opposed to elected, and their nomination is reviewed based on the merit of the person, not the weight of their politics.     

In September 2005, while Corzine was serving in the United States Senate, he announced that he could not "in good conscience vote to confirm Judge (John) Roberts as Chief Justice.

"While he has demonstrated intelligence and eloquence, he has not provided adequate insight into his views or judicial philosophy. The Supreme Court is too important and the stakes are too high to roll the dice on a judge who may sit on the bench for decades to come," Corzine said. "I fear that we have not learned all that we should learn about Judge Roberts for a lifetime appointment of such significance."

Statement of Senator Corzine on Harriet Miers

Woodbury, N.J. -- U.S. Senator Jon S. Corzine today released the following statement regarding Harriet Miers' withdrawal of her nomination to the Supreme Court:

A new Strategic Vision poll shows Jon Corzine leading Doug Forrester by six points, 46%-40%. Corzine's favorables are at 42%-41%, while Forrester's are at 41%-37%. More than half of the voters surveyed -- 55% -- said they would have preferred different candidates.

President George W. Bush's approval rating in New Jersey is at 35%-58%. 47% approve of his appointment of Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court, while 39% disapprove.

Click here to visit the PoliticsNJ.com Polls & Election Result Weblog.

Two New Jerseyans who went to Southern Methodist University Law School with U.S. Supreme Court Justice-designate Harriet Miers: Union County Surrogate James LaCorte and former Belvidere Mayor Bradford Day. Miers graduated in 1970, while LaCorte and Day were in the Class of 1972.

Corzine Statement on Supreme Court Nominee Harriet Miers
Justice O'Connor's replacement cannot serve narrow ideological interests

U.S. Senator Jon S. Corzine (D-N.J.) today released the following statement regarding White House Counsel Harriet Miers' nomination to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court:

What do Senator Jon Corzine and U.S. Supreme Court Justice-designate Harriet Miers have in common? They both gave $1,000 to the 1988 re-election campaign of Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Miers, President George W. Bush's second pick for the top court, gave $1,000 to the Democratic National Committee that year; Corzine's contribution to the DNC in the same cycle was $10,000. But Corzine and Miers had different horses in the '88 presidential race: Miers donated $1,000 to Al Gore, while Corzine gave to five other presidential candidates -- Bruce Babbitt, Joseph Biden, Michael Dukakis, Richard Gephardt and Paul Simon. For trivia buffs: in 1988, Corzine also contributed $500 each to New Jersey's two U.S. Senate candidates -- Democrat Frank Lautenberg and Republican Pete Dawkins.