Samuel Alieto

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."