By John Mooney, January 24, 2012 in More Issues|Post a Comment

The last time New Jersey's state Supreme Court saw this kind of turnover was nearly 40 years ago in 1973, when four seats were filled by then Gov. William Cahill.

Now, Gov. Chris Christie is taking advantage of his once-a-generation opportunity, yesterday nominating two more justices to the seven-member court -- making it three so far this term -- with potentially a fourth to come in 2013.

How much and how quickly this will represent the expected shift to right for the court is yet to be seen, observers said. But Christie embraced the moment in announcing the nominations of Phillip Kwon and Bruce Harris at a Statehouse press conference, saying the court appointments may be his most lasting decisions.

"I think one of the most solemn responsibilities any governor has is the opportunity to name associate justices to the Supreme Court," he said. "They always long outlast the governor, and their legacy will become part of my legacy."

The reactions came in quickly yesterday, if not a little cautiously, to Christie's choices. Much was made of the diversity of the well-known and accomplished lawyers.

Kwon is first assistant state Attorney General and a former federal prosecutor who was lead lawyer in the corruption case against former Newark Mayor Sharpe James. Harris is a private banking and commercial attorney, but stepped into the public spotlight recently as the first openly gay man elected mayor in New Jersey in his hometown of Chatham Borough.