Christie's "Revolution" Against Judicial Activism

From Politics and Government:

Christie's 'revolution' against judicial activism


Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 2/21/2011 4:15:00 AMA New Jersey-based attorney says Governor Chris Christie is "launching a revolution" in taking on the liberal status quo of the Garden State.







The Republican governor has made national headlines by taking on the teachers unions and other obstacles to get his state's fiscal house in order. Thomas Gentile, a New Jersey attorney who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito when he was an appeals court judge, says the state's activist Supreme Court has imposed spending requirements that have handcuffed efforts to implement innovative solutions to New Jersey's serious problems.



"One is the Abbott Doctrine, which requires budgetary commitments by the state to public schools," Gentile explains. "The other is the Mount Laurel Doctrine, which requires municipalities to essentially divine affordable housing into existence."



So he reports that Christie has decided against reappointing a justice whose seven-year term has expired. That move locked him in a battle with the Democratic Senate president, who refuses to hold confirmation hearings on Christie's choice for the high court.



"Governor Christie is essentially launching a revolution," Gentile decides. "We have this ongoing standoff between Governor Christie and state Senate President [Stephen] Sweeney over the composition of the New Jersey Supreme Court, and Governor Christie is not backing down."





The attorney predicts that Christie, who has been mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential candidate, will take the issue of judicial activism to the New Jersey voters in this fall's legislative elections.