Banking Chief Nominated To Top New Jersey Court
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Solidifying her effort to rein in the judicial activism of the New Jersey Supreme Court, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman today nominated Jaynee LaVecchia, the state’s banking commissioner and an aide to two Republican governors, to the state’s highest court. The nomination, which came the day after Justice Marie T. Garibaldi announced her retirement, received generally favorable reviews from both Democrats and Republicans and was expected to win easy approval from the State Senate. Although Ms. LaVecchia is just 45, Mrs. Whitman said she had an extensive legal background as a lawyer and the state’s former chief administrative law judge. The governor said that as a cabinet member, Ms. LaVecchia had also proven to be a compassionate administrator. ”When we are discussing a policy, she doesn’t just consider how it will work, but how it will affect people,” Mrs. Whitman said. However, some critics said Mrs. Whitman was leaning too heavily on her own inner circle for judicial appointments. And privately, others said that Mrs. Whitman’s appointments have not had the scholarly credentials of some predecessors. More : query.nytimes.com |