(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) on Wednesday released the following statement criticizing Gov. Christie’s latest nominations for the Supreme Court for not being representative of the state:
“The governor’s latest nominations for the Supreme Court again miss the mark when it comes to depicting New Jersey.
“The governor broke precedent and left the court without an African-American judge when he dismissed Judge Wallace despite his extensive judicial experience and esteemed reputation. Since then he has attempted to replace him with candidates that either lack the necessary experience, have questionable backgrounds or fail to represent the diversity of our state. His choices may not have been confirmed, but in a state of nearly 9 million people, we know the governor could have found another African-American choice had he truly been interested in a court that looks like our great state.
“These judges will set the tone for pressing social issues like affordable housing and school funding for poor school districts in New Jersey. African-Americans and Latinos are the two largest minority groups in the state. It is shameful that the governor should be so dismissive and political in his nominations. We have to make sure that the people that we sit in the Supreme Court are not only qualified and experienced, but that they are representative of the people they serve.”