NJ’s Anti-Filibuster Bill

A Republican member of the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee is fed up with what he feels is stonewalling on the part of the Democratic majority. Sen. Kevin O’Toole, R-Wayne, has introduced a resolution to end filibustering by Democrats on Gov. Chris Christie’s Supreme Court nominees.

“The Senate Democrats have gone to unprecedented lengths to deny the people of New Jersey a full, diverse and balanced Supreme Court, as the High Court weighs some of the most important cases in our state’s history,” O’Toole said. “Democrats around the country have celebrated a U.S. Senate move to eliminate filibustering on certain nominees by America’s Chief Executive, and now the state Senate should be able to end the blockage of Supreme Court nominations by New Jersey’s Chief Executive.”

There is a model for O’Toole’s legislation. Recently, the U.S. Senate voted to end the use of the filibuster against most presidential nominees. O’Toole’s resolution will require that all gubernatorial nominees to the New Jersey Supreme Court receive hearings no later than 90 days from when nominated.

“This Senate just showed how easy it is to approve one of Gov. Christie’s qualified nominees, Faustino J. Fernandez-Vina, two months after his nomination date,” O’Toole explained. “No other time than since Gov. Christie was elected in 2009 has the state Senate delayed its duty to give Supreme Court nominees a hearing. Ninety days is more than enough time for us to do our jobs.”