Christie's Supreme Nom Nom Noms

[Sue U]

So. NJ Governor, teabagger star and American Diabetes Association Type 2 poster boy Chris Christie has some appointments to make for the state Supreme Court. And he chooses a gay black Repiblican mayor (whose day job is counsel to the banksters) and a Korean bureaucrat from the AG's office, neither of whom has any judicial (or even courtroom) experience.

Has he just sunk his chances in the veepstakes? Or has he found another way to broaden his base, so to speak?

[dgs49]

It seems to me that the qualities that would make a good appellate court justice might be quite different from the qualities that would make a good litigator or trial court judge.

But since I have never been personally involved with any of that stuff, it is only an outsider's opinion.

I pretty much agree with everything I've heard Christy say in public, so I don't doubt his judgment (no play on words intended) for a minute. I'm sure these guys will do fine.

[Sue U]

Cases go up on appeal (and reach the Supreme Court) because they have been litigated in the trial court. I think it is probably a good idea to have justices who know something about the realities of litigation and what actually happens in the tiral courts. Aside from the offensive political confrontation Christie provoked with the Legislature and his bullshit grandstanding, I have no problem with his previous nomination to the Court. Although she represented "the other side" in some of my cases, I have genuine admiration for her; she is a skilled lawyer, courteous to a fault and whip smart, with a genuine interest in both getting the law right and doing right under the law -- not merely winning her case. I am sure she will be a fine justice, even if her political leanings tend to the conservative.

But my question in the OP is whether Christie's current selections might be alienating the GOP "base" he has seemed to be courting. He got some pointed (stupid) criticism last year when he nominated a Muslim trial court judge, and called the Islamophobia of his party "crazy" and "crap." Now he is appointing a black gay man and a foreign-born lawyer who would be the first Asian on the Court. I have heard some say the nominations are politically motivated, looking at a 2016 presidential run. Is this pure (or partly) cynical political showmanship? Does it help him or hurt him?

[Jarlaxle]

He doesnt want to be vp.

[dgs49]

I think the GOP base is more concerned about whether appeals court judges are going to be "legislating from the bench" than their personal lives or backgrounds.

It would not be well for any national candidate, regardless of party, to have a record of only appointing white males.