Camden County Judge Picks Up Democratic Support

Gov. Chris Christie may have finally found the state Supreme Court judge nominee who breaks the streak of Democratic opposition.

With several prominent Democrats calling for a judiciary committee hearing on the nomination of Superior Court Judge Faustino J. Fernandez-Vina, who heads the Camden County court and is a Haddon Township High School alum, the governor’s one-for-five record on judge nominees reaching the bench could improve in a hurry.

Following state Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney’s call for a hearing for Fernandez-Vina, nominated to take the place of current Justice Helen Hoens, at least two other powerful Democrats have stepped in line behind Sweeney.

Senate majority leader Loretta Weinberg (Bergen County) and Sen. Donald Norcross (Camden County) both added their voices to those calling for a hearing for Fernandez-Vina, with Norcross taking a step further and saying he’ll support the judge for the court.

“I share the Senate president’s position that diversity, qualifications and balance are most important, and I am happy that Gov. Christie has nominated someone who will add diversity to the court to fill the seat currently held by Justice Helen Hoens,” Weinberg said in a statement. “Though I do not buy the governor's explanation that he was saving Justice Hoens from some kind of an unfair, tough interrogation, I do believe we should get on to giving this new nominee a hearing to examine his background, qualifications and how he fits into the ‘balance’ requirement.”

Norcross, meanwhile, indicated he’d met with Fernandez-Vina Thursday regarding the judge’s nomination.

“He has a stellar reputation as a highly intelligent and eminently fair jurist,” Norcross said. “On a personal level, I find him to be a man of respect, decency, and character. I look forward to supporting his nomination to the Supreme Court.”

If approved by the Legislature, Fernandez-Vina, who is of Cuban-American heritage, would be the only justice on the bench from South Jersey. Former Supreme Court Judge John Wallace, a Democrat and the court’s only black member, was the court’s previous representative from the southern portion of the state, but Christie declined to renominate him in 2010, effectively removing Wallace from the bench.

Christie’s move to not renominate Hoens was due at least in part to concerns Democrats in the Legislature would retaliate for Wallace’s removal, the governor said, making it difficult, if not impossible for Hoens to survive the process and remain a jurist.

Fernandez-Vina—whose voting records indicate he’s a Democrat, but may be a Republican—was part of the controversial Camden County takeover of Camden’s police department, a move backed by Christie, blocking the city police union’s attempt to delay the takeover and put the issue before voters, arguing it would unfairly restrict the city.

Rob Scott contributed to this report.