New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie proposed two historic firsts for the state Supreme Court by nominating an openly gay black man and a Korean-born law enforcement official to the bench on Monday.
The Republican governor announced the nominations of Bruce A. Harris and Phillip H. Kwon at a Statehouse news conference attended by the nominees and their families.
“I am proud to be standing here today to announce two historic nominations to the New Jersey State Supreme Court,” Christie said, adding that he had “extreme confidence in their records and respect for their intellect.”
Harris is the mayor of Chatham in Morris County. He would be the third African-American to be seated on the court - and the first openly gay member. His longtime partner attended the announcement.
Six openly gay justices sit on state Supreme Courts nationwide.
Garden State Equality chairman Steven Goldstein praised the choice. The gay rights leader acknowledged he was very surprised by the announcement but said the Christie administration has always treated gay community leaders with “warmth and responsiveness.”
Kwon works in the Attorney General's Office and lives in Bergen County. He would be the first Asian-American on the high court.
Christie has two vacancies to fill on the court as of March 1.
The current court, made up of five women and two men, all of whom are white.
Christie created a firestorm when he decided not to re-nominate the court's only black member, Justice John Wallace, in 2010.
The nominations need confirmation from the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Christie Picks Gay Black Man, Asian for Top NJ Court
Gov. Chris Christie has two vacancies to fill on the court as of March 1.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
