Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

NEW JERSEY: Will Legislators Override Christie's Marriage Veto?

February 17 was the one year anniversary of Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's veto of the marriage equality bill passed by the legislature. Democratic leaders in the Assembly and Senate have announced they will attempt to override that veto before the end of the current session, reports Politicker NJ.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, an openly gay lawmaker who sponsored the bill in the Assembly, said he met with both Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and both men were committed to putting the bill up for an override. The bill did not pass in either house with enough votes to override the governor's action, but gay rights advocates have been working the phones for a year trying to turn lawmakers in their favor.

The bill passed 24-16 in the Senate and 42-33 in the Assembly. In the Senate, three additional votes are needed to pass an override, while in the Assembly an additional 12 are needed for the two-thirds majority required to override. "I think we can get the three in the Senate," he said. "But the Assembly is a different story. I can name five who might switch their vote, but it stops there."

Gusciora said he spoke to both men about the possibility of a ballot initiative to legalize same sex marriage, however Gusciora said Sweeney was against the idea. "He didn't close the door entirely, but he said he firmly believes that civil rights should not be on the ballot," Gusciora said. "I agree, but I think the worst thing that can happen is the status quo."

Christie has previously suggested a ballot initiative. Democratic legislative leaders and the state's leading gay activists have initially opposed that strategy.

Legislators can attempt a veto override as many times as necessary until the current session ends in January 2014.

Same-sex couples can now legally marry in nine states—Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington—and the District of Columbia. Illinois is currently pursuing legislation that would likely make it the tenth state to mandate equal marriage.

Murdoch Warns Christie to "Re-Declare for Romney"

News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch's is not pleased with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's praise of President Obama's handling of Hurricane Sandy. Murdoch lashed out in a series of tweets, culminating in this message where he approved cancellation of the New York City marathon and warned that Christie will "take blame" for the next four years unless he "re-declare[s] for Romney."

Murdoch gives a "slight edge" to Obama but doubts the accuracy of the key state polls. Heehee.

EBONY: "Why Did New Jersey Democrats Reject Bruce Harris"

PHOTO: AP

Our latest news analysis for EBONY: "Why Did New Jersey Democrats Reject a Black, Gay Man to the Supreme Court?"

"Bruce Harris was even more cynical appointment than Clarence Thomas," Rev. Taylor told EBONY. "A Black man who votes against most of the Black community. A gay man who won’t vote on the most pressing gay rights case of our time."

"The gay establishment latched on to this nomination very quickly. They saw he was gay, so they were excited," Darnell Moore told EBONY. Moore is former chair of Newark’s LGBTQ Advisory Commission. "But the big issue in New Jersey right now is school funding. It’s critical to the Black community. But most reporters didn’t interview Black folks or certainly not any Black gay folks. We would have told them."

Christie opposes the court-mandated formula that funds urban school districts. That opposition—as well as the Republican governor’s reluctance to direct funding to inner cities such as Newark or Camden—could have been the motives behind the ill-fated Harris nomination.

"The state supreme court will consider cases on affordable housing, racial profiling and funding for urban schools," said NJ NAACP’s James Harris. "Christie nominates a Black, gay Republican man with a white partner who lives in a wealthy community? Christie was being disrespectful to Blacks and poor people. We were convinced that Mr. Harris would support the governor on school funding."

Read the full article HERE.

NJ Senate Panel Rejects Christie's Black, Gay GOP Sup Ct Nominee

PHOTO: AP

Can't say this was unexpected. The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee has rejected Gov. Chris Christie’s nomination of the nation's only Black gay Republican mayor to the state Supreme Court. Chatham Borough Mayor Bruce Harris would have become the state's first openly gay Supreme Court justice and the nation's only Black openly gay supreme court justice.

Harris was turned down on a 7 to 6 vote. Only one Democrat supported his confirmation. The panel reiterated  concerns about Harris' lack of litigation experience and over-willingness to recuse himself from cases involving gay rights. The defeat is "another blow to the governor’s attempt to reshape what he has criticized as an overly liberal and activist institution," reports The New York Times.

His nomination in January was well-received by gay rights groups and by Democrats as a welcome move for diversity on the court, particularly as Mr. Christie, a Republican, was resisting the Legislature’s effort to legalize same-sex marriage.

But at a Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination on Thursday, Democrats, who hold the majority on the panel, argued that Mr. Harris lacked the appropriate legal experience. A lawyer working primarily on lending and public finance transactions at Greenberg Traurig, a large national firm, he failed to make partner, and by his own admission on Thursday he has almost no courtroom experience. [...]

Under questioning, he acknowledged that there was little in the way of writing that they could examine to evaluate the caliber of his legal thinking. He had rarely even appeared in court, except, he said, to do some pro bono work on drunken-driving cases

More on Harris' troubling pre-emptive recusal from the Star-Ledger.

On the recusal issue, Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-Somerset) came to Harris’ defense, saying a court ruling requires judges to recuse themselves on some matters. But when Harris said he wasn’t aware of the ruling, Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) said she was even more troubled. "That’s why your recusal is more disturbing — because you’re not a judge and you have already actively taken yourself out of the process," Gill said. "Is your recusal political?"

Harris calmly replied, "My decision to recuse myself on same-sex marriage is no political calculus." He said that although he could be impartial in deciding such cases, he didn’t want to give the public the opportunity to question that impartiality because he had advocated for same-sex marriage in 2009.

Harris’ defeat is the second setback for Christie in the past two months. First Assistant Attorney General Phillip Kwon was also rejected two months ago on a 7-6 vote .

Last week the entire New Jersey Black Legislative Caucus went on the record to oppose Harris' nomination. The group of 17 Black lawmakers includes New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Sen. Nia Gill, longtime gay allies and leaders in the Garden State's push for equal marriage. Christie vetoed New Jersey's marriage equality legislation on February 17. Democratic legislative leaders have vowed to override the veto by January 2014.

Today''s vote comes almost two years after the Republican governor infuriated Democrats and minorities by replacing the court's only Black justice with a white Republican. Justice John Wallace, who was a Democrat,  supported LGBT rights and marriage equality. Wallace had two years to go before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

You May Have Missed ..
NJ's Black Legislators Oppose Harris
REPORT: Gay NJ SupCo Nominee Will NOT Be Confirmed
Hearings Begin for Bruce Harris
Hearings Scheduled for Gay NJ Supreme Courtt Nominee
Gay NJ SupCo Court Nominee Criticized for Recusal Promise
Gay NJ Supreme Court Nominee to Recuse Himself on Marriage
Christie Nominates Black Gay GOP Mayor to NJ Supreme
NJ Gov Christie Ousts State's Only Black Supreme Court Justice

NJ's Black Legislators Oppose Christie's Black Gay SupCt Nominee

PHOTO: Star-Ledger

Heehee. The entire New Jersey Black Legislative Caucus has gone on the record to oppose the nation's only Black openly gay Republican mayor and Gov. Chris Christie's nominee to the state's highest court.

The caucus has reiterated  concerns about Harris' lack of litigation experience and over-willingness to recuse himself from cases involving gay rights, reports the Star-Ledger.

The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus told The Associated Press that attorney Bruce Harris' legal qualifications fall short of the high standard required of the court's seven justices. No blacks currently sit on the court. "The nomination of Mr. Harris sends the wrong message , that we can only achieve diversity on the Supreme Court through lowering the bar for qualifications," said Sen. Ron Rice, the caucus leader. "In a state with many distinguished African-American lawyers and judges, nothing could be further from the truth."

The caucus also expressed concern that Harris told the governor he would recuse himself from cases involving gay marriage, an issue for which Harris had advocated before being nominated. Harris, who has a degree from Yale Law School, lives with his partner of 32 years, Marc Boisclair.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, the group's second vice chair, said it's "inappropriate" for a potential judicial nominee to make promises on specific cases to the governor. "It's doubly inappropriate to commit ahead of time to recuse oneself from a case based on one's race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation," she said. "Mr. Harris's promise on recusal sets a dangerous precedent and only emphasizes why he is not qualified for the job."

The group of 17 Black lawmakers includes New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Sen. Nia Gill, longtime gay allies and leaders in the Garden State's push for equal marriage. Christie vetoed New Jersey's marriage equality legislation on February 17. Democratic legislative leaders have vowed to override the veto by January 2014.

Harris was elected mayor of Chatham Borough in November 2011. At that time, he became the nation's only openly gay Black Republican mayor. If confirmed—thankfully, that looks very doubtful at this point—Harris would become the state's first openly LGBT justice and the nation's first openly gay Black state supreme court justice.

This comes almost two years after the Republican governor infuriated Democrats and minorities by replacing the court's only Black justice with a white Republican. Harris would replace veteran Black Democratic Justice John Wallace, who supported LGBT rights and marriage equality. Wallace had two years to go before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

The Senate Judiciary Committee was supposed to vote on Harris' nomination yesterday. The hearing has apparently been rescheduled to May 31.

You May Have Missed ...
REPORT: Gay NJ SupCo Nominee Will NOT Be Confirmed
Hearings Begin for Bruce Harris
Hearings Scheduled for Gay NJ Supreme Courtt Nominee
Gay NJ SupCo Court Nominee Criticized for Recusal Promise
Gay NJ Supreme Court Nominee to Recuse Himself on Marriage
Christie Nominates Black Gay GOP Mayor to NJ Supreme
NJ Gov Christie Ousts State's Only Black Supreme Court Justice

REPORT: Gay NJ Supreme Nominee Bruce Harris Will NOT Be Confirmed

Ray Charles could have seen this coming. The Black gay Republican mayor nominated by Gov. Chris Christie to the New Jersey Supreme Court will likely not be confirmed, reports the Star-Ledger. Bruce Harris is not expected to clear today's hearing in the Senate Judiciary committee.

As previously reported, the Democratic-controlled committee is concerned about his lack of litigation experience and willingness to recuse himself from cases involving marriage equality and gay rights.

Harris, a graduate of Yale Law School, is a transactional attorney at the international law firm Greenberg Traurig. In a questionnaire he prepared for the committee, Harris said he had closed more than $8 billion in deals, including transactions involving the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. ... The sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, said Harris’ lack of courtroom experience was indeed a sticking point for committee’s eight Democrats.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) said he remained opposed to the nomination because Harris has said that if approved, he would recuse himself from cases involving gay rights. Christie has said Harris planned to recuse himself because in the past he had advocated for gay rights.

Lesniak and other critics said a blanket recusal was unnecessary, and that most likely was a concession to Christie, who opposes same-sex marriage. A lawsuit brought by seven gay couples seeking the right to marry is pending in a lower court and is expected to make its way to the Supreme Court in a couple years.

Harris was elected mayor of Chatham Borough in November 2011. At that time, he became the nation's only openly gay Black Republican mayor. If confirmed, Harris would become the state's first openly LGBT justice and the nation's first openly gay Black state supreme court justice.

Harris has already promised to recuse himself from any marriage equality case. That premature promise has underwhelmed critics, including key Democratic legislative leaders who are already unimpressed with Harris' credentials.

Ian Milhiser at Think Progress adds:

An openly gay judge is no more required to recuse himself from gay rights cases than Clarence Thomas is required to recuse himself from race cases because he is black or Ruth Bader Ginsburg is required to recuse herself from gender discrimination cases because she is a woman. If Harris becomes a judge on the back of a promise to remove himself from gay issues because he is gay, he will set a dangerous precedent that anti-gay groups will cite every time another LGBT judicial nominee is named.

Harris' appointment comes almost two years after the Republican governor infuriated Democrats and minorities by replacing the court's only Black justice with a white Republican. Harris would replace veteran Black Democratic Justice John Wallace, who supported LGBT rights and marriage equality.

Christie vetoed New Jersey's marriage equality legislation on February 17. Democratic legislative leaders have vowed to override the veto by January 2014.

You May Have Missed ...
Hearings Begin for Bruce Harris
Hearings Scheduled for Gay NJ Supreme Courtt Nominee
Gay NJ SupCo Court Nominee Criticized for Recusal Promise
Gay NJ Supreme Court Nominee to Recuse Himself on Marriage
Christie Nominates Black Gay GOP Mayor to NJ Supreme
NJ Gov Christie Ousts State's Only Black Supreme Court Justice

Hearings Begin for Bruce Harris, Gay NJ Supreme Court Nominee

The first round of confirmation hearings begin today for Bruce Harris, the Black gay Republican mayor nominated by Gov. Chris Christie to the New Jersey Supreme Court, reports Patch.com.

Chatham Borough Mayor Bruce Harris will be in Trenton Thursday morning for the start of his confirmation hearings for before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Harris was nominated to the Supreme Court of New Jersey in January by Gov. Chris Christie days after he was sworn in as the mayor of Chatham Borough. If confirmed, he will resign the role of mayor.

Phillip H. Kwon, of Closter, was also nominated at the same time. If confirmed, Harris will be the first openly gay man to sit on the state's highest court and Kwon will be the first Asian American. [...]

The state Senate Judiciary Committee has 13 members, including a chair, Nicholas P. Scutari, and a vice-chair, Nia H. Gill.  NJTV will provide coverage of the hearings throughout the day, and analysis of the hearings during their evening program of "NJ Today."NJTV will provide coverage of the hearings throughout the day, and analysis of the hearings during their evening program of "NJ Today."

If advanced by the Judiciary Committee, the nominees must then be confirmed by the full Senate.

Harris was elected mayor of Chatham Borough in November 2011. At that time, he became the nation's only openly gay Black Republican mayor. If confirmed, Harris would become the state's first openly LGBT justice and the nation's first openly gay Black state supreme court justice.

Harris' 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. Harris would replace veteran Black Democraic Justice John Wallace, who supported LGBT rights and marriage equality.

Harris has already promised to recuse himself from any marriage equality case. That premature promise has underwhelmed critics, including key Democratic legislative leaders who are already unimpressed with Harris' credentials.  The bond attorney has never made partner or argued a case in a courtroom.

Christie vetoed New Jersey's marriage equality legislation on February 17. Democratic legislative leaders have vowed to override the veto by January 2014.

You May Have Missed ...
Hearings Scheduled for Gay NJ Supreme Courtt Nominee
Gay NJ SupCo Court Nominee Criticized for Recusal Promise
Gay NJ Supreme Court Nominee to Recuse Himself on Marriage
Christie Nominates Black Gay GOP Mayor to NJ Supreme
NJ Gov Christie Ousts State's Only Black Supreme Court Justice

Hearings Scheduled for Gay New Jersey Supreme Court Nominee

The first round of confirmation hearings have been scheduled for Bruce Harris, the Black gay Republican mayor nominated by Gov. Chris Christie to the New Jersey Supreme Court, report the Courier Post and the Chatham Courier.

Published reports [said] the hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, March 22. Harris, believed to be the country’s first and only openly gay African-American Republican mayor, and [attorney Phillip H. Kwon], first assistant attorney general for Christie, were nominated to sit on the state’s highest bench by Christie on Monday, Jan. 23.

If his nomination clears Trenton legislators, Harris then would have to resign his four-year term as mayor, which expires Dec. 31, 2016.

If advanced by the Judiciary Committee, the nominees must then be confirmed by the full Senate.

Harris was elected mayor of Chatham Borough in November 2011. At that time, he became the nation's only openly gay Black Republican mayor. If confirmed, Harris would become the state's first openly LGBT justice and the nation's first openly gay Black state supreme court justice. The Korean-born Kwon would become the court's first Asian and the first born outside the U.S.

Harris' 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. Harris would replace veteran Black Democraic Justice John Wallace, who supported LGBT rights and marriage equality.

Harris has already promised to recuse himself from any marriage equality case. That premature promise has underwhelmed critics, including key Democratic legislative leaders who are already unimpressed with Harris' credentials.  The bond attorney has never made partner or argued a case in a courtroom.

Christie vetoed New Jersey's marriage equality legislation on February 17. Democratic legislative leaders have vowed to override the veto by January 2014.

You May Have Missed ...
Gay NJ SupCo Court Nominee Criticized for Recusal Promise
Gay NJ Supreme Court Nominee to Recuse Himself on Marriage
Christie Nominates Black Gay GOP Mayor to NJ Supreme
NJ Gov Christie Ousts State's Only Black Supreme Court Justice

Christie Vetoes NJ Marriage Bill

As expected, New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie has vetoed the marriage equality bill passed by both houses of the legislature, reports the Star-Ledger.

And this is rich: Christie has suggested appointing an ombudsman to "strengthen" New Jersey’s civil union law.

"I have been just as adamant that same-sex couples in a civil union deserve the very same rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples — as well as the strict enforcement of those rights and benefits,’’ Christie said in a prepared statement. "Discrimination should not be tolerated and any complaint alleging a violation of a citizen’s right should be investigated and, if appropriate, remedied."

Christie continued push his suggestion of the gay marriage issue to a referendum in November to allow New Jersey voters to decide. Republicans fell in line with his recommendation; not a single Republican present on Thursday voted for the gay marriage bill.

The Assembly passed the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act by a 42-33 vote on Thursday. The Senate passed the measure by a 24-16 vote on Monday.

A two-thirds vote in each chamber is needed to override the veto. The override would require at least 13 more votes in the Assembly. Three more votes are required in the Senate. Legislators can attempt a veto override as many times as necessary until January 2014.

Six states currently mandate marriage equality—Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York—as does the District of Columbia. On Monday, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed legislation to make Washington the seventh state. That legislation is expected is to head to the ballot in a voter referendum.

NJ Assembly Passes Marriage Equality Bill by 42-33 Vote

In an historic vote for equality, the New Jersey Assembly has passed the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act by a 42-33 vote. The Senate passed the measure on Monday by a 24-16 vote—the same day that Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed marriage equality legislation.

The passage was a narrow vote. Forty-one votes were needed for passage. Republican Gov. Chris Christie has promised to veto the bill and that "could come as early as [tonight]", adds the Star-Ledger.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciara (D-Mercer) said in a news release after the vote that "this is probably one of the highlights of my legislative tenure – no matter what the ultimate outcome may be." "For those who oppose this measure, I realize that this is a difficult decision to make," Gusciora said. "It is a question that tests the fundamental protections of liberty founded in our federal and state constitutions."

Assemblyman Jay Webber ( R-Morris ), who voted against the measure, said on the floor that gays should not have the ability to have "their desires redefine marriage for everyone else."

Today's vote was the first time that the Assembly had ever voted on the measure. The Senate first voted on marriage equality in January 2010. The measure was defeated 20-14.

Four Democrats voted "No" in today's Assembly vote: Albano, Milam, Egan, and Schaer. No Republicans supported today's measure. Two Republicans voted for the Senate version on Monday.

A two-thirds vote in each chamber is needed to override Christie's promised veto. The override would require at least 13 more votes in the Assembly. Legislators can attempt a veto override as many times as necessary until January 2014.