New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has nominated the nation's only openly gay Black Republican mayor to the state’s highest court. Christie has nominated 61-year-old Bruce Harris, who was elected mayor of Chatham Borough in November, reports the Star-Ledger. If confirmed to the New Jersey Supreme Court, Harris would become the state's first openly LGBT justice ... and the nation's first openly gay Black state supreme court justice.
The appointment comes a year and a half after the Republican governor infuriated Democrats and minorities by replacing the court's only Black justice with a white Republican.
Christie nominated [Harris and] Phil Kwon, who worked under Christie when he was U.S. attorney. They would replace former Justice John Wallace, who Christie declined to reappoint in 2010, and Justice Virginia Long, who faces mandatory retirement next month.
Christie has stressed that he wants to remake the Supreme Court, which he blames tying his hands on hot button issues such as funding for poor school districts and affordable housing.
In 2010, Christie sparked a firestorm when he declined to re-nominate Justice John Wallace, Jr. Senate Democrats, infuriated by the unprecedented move, refused to consider his replacement for the seat, Anne Patterson, for a year. Eventually, Patterson was sworn in to replace Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto, who declined to seek re-nomination, and Wallace’s seat has remained vacant. It also sparked criticism of Christie because, after Wallace, an African-American left and Soto retired, there were no minority members left on the Supreme Court.
Bruce Harris is a 30-year resident of Chatham and has served on various boards and commissions for 13 years, reports the Daily Record. Harris also served two terms as a council member.
Christie has opposed marriage equality. Christie also initially did not support the state's landmark anti-bullying legislation, described as the "strictest anti-bullying statute in the nation."
Harris becomes the latest openly LGBT justice appointed to state high courts. In May 2011, Barbara Lenk became the first openly gay judge to serve on Massachusetts' highest judicial body. Colorado Deputy Attorney General Monica Marquez became the first Latino and the first openly gay jurist on that state's high court in December 2010. Judge Sabrina McKenna was confirmed to the Hawaii Supreme Court in February 2011.
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Is this... a win?
Posted by: UrSoVain | 23 January 2012 at 11:47
A gay republican is like a black klansman, Nobody wins in the end because it's so ridiculous.
Posted by: Larry | 23 January 2012 at 16:53
In New Jersey...yes...its' a win...C. Christie is many things but you really don't get the insufferable bigot vibe from him.
I doubt whether Harris is a teabagger type, probably more of a Rockefeller/George Romney type of Republican.
Congratulations to Mr. Harris
Posted by: Chitown Kev | 23 January 2012 at 19:11
Very nice writeup.
Posted by: Young | 23 January 2012 at 20:28
"yes...its' a win"
We really don't know that, Kev.
You say you think Harris "probably" is a Rockefeller Republican. That breed is extinct, even in new Jersey. The Republicans are somewhat moderate there (Whitman, etc) but are BUSH Republicans. And let's not forget that Christie REMOVED the only black justice on the supreme court.
Not sure why you think this is a win. Harris is an upper class black gay man who votes GOP. If Harris votes to strike down affirmative action, supports school vouchers or union busting, it's not a win for working folks or black folks.
Also, the black Democrat justice that Christie removed supported marriage equality and voted for the civil unions decision.
I'll say it's a win after Mr. Black Gay Republican votes on issues that affect folks in Newark and Irvington.
Posted by: Dalton | 23 January 2012 at 22:51
@Dalton
Rockefeller Repubs aren't quite extinct (you run into a few of those Rokefeller...or should I say Everett Dirksen Republicans right here in Illinois).
And you run into a few of them in Massachusetts too. I don't have to agree with them (or anyone else) on every issue. IIRC, Mr. Harris does support marriage equality.
As far as school vouchers and union busting, as a Chicagoian, I'm not about to throw stones at Mr. BGR when we have Rahm Emmanuel at the local level and Arne 'Charter Schools" Duncan at the national level.
Posted by: Chitown Kev | 24 January 2012 at 09:49
Kev: Harris is a Black Republican corporate lawyer ... who happens to be gay.
Christie supports Romney (previously supported Bush) and removed the only black on the court. Almost two years later he nominates another black man ... a Republican corporate lawyer who is marginally qualified and happens to be gay. I wouldn't be surprised if Harris supports Romney, too. If you call this a "win", good for you.
Dalton's points about Christie trying to restack the court, school vouchers, uinion busting and bailing out cities like Camden and Irvington is quite valid. We're not talking about Massachusetts, we're not talking about Illinois, we're talking about New Jersey. We're not discussing Rahm Emanuel and Chicago, but you often throw everything against the wall and hope something will stick to change the subject.
Posted by: Brooks | 24 January 2012 at 11:44
Wow, the gay guy "supports" marriage equality! How courageous! So did the majority of the (straight) NJ Supreme Court and the black Democrat who Christie refused to re-appoint.
Yawn. A black gay Republican is still a black Republican and is still a Republican.
Posted by: TW | 24 January 2012 at 16:23
Not trying to change the subject at all.
I just have never casually assumed that simply because someone has a D behind their name that they're all good (growing up in Detroit can make you rather cynical about that) Nor do I assume that Harris is all good or all bad.
A simple congratulations is all that's really necessary at the moment...and I'm through with this because these blog piefights are getting tiring.
Posted by: Chitown Kev | 24 January 2012 at 21:22