Stuart Rabner

Gov. Jon Corzine is optimistic about New Jersey's futureSeated at a back table in an Ironbound restaurant on Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Jon Corzine listened as he heard the leadership of his party described as a three-headed hydra; an image used by Republicans on the campaign trail to characterize Senate President Richard Codey, Speaker Joseph Roberts - and Corzine.

The governor thinks it's ridiculous.

"We have a Constitution that separates power for a reason," said Corzine: to prevent one branch of government from usurping the authority that individuals have in each branch.

The appointment of former Attorney General Stuart Rabner to the office of state Supreme Court Justice is one of his proudest accomplishments as governor, given the quality and preparedness of the man, Corzine said. However, the judiciary is not the troubled branch of government by the reckoning of Corzine's fiercest critics - maybe philosophically with decisions such as Abbott - but at least not immediately.

Rabner confirmed, Milgram confirmed, budget passed, dual officeholding ban passed, Belleville official arrested, former Harrison official pleads guilty to theft and official misconduct, former Fairfield Township official indicted, stem cell measure passed, monetization shelved.

Editor's Note: On Monday, the Today's News feature will move to the NJPOLITICS IN THE NEWS section, located on the top left side of this site.

Sen. Nia Gill on Thursday remained the only senator to vote against Stuart Rabner, both in committee and in the senate as a whole, on a day when the rest of the senate enthusiastically embraced the outgoing attorney general as chief justice for the state Supreme Court.

The final vote was 35-1.

The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved the nominations of Stuart Rabner as Chief Justice and Anne Milgram as Attorney General, and the State Assembly passed legislation that would ban legislators and their families from accepting gifts from lobbyists.

Gill stops resisting Rabner, former Bergen County prosecutor questions Rabner’s character, Tom Moran on Nia Gill, Bloomberg leaves GOP, Weinberg uses senatorial courtesy, a Bergen County lawyer charged with exposing himself keeps his place on an ethics panel, Healy not likely to face jail time, a watermelon delivery leads to an investigation.

Editor's Note: On Monday, the Today's News feature will move to the NJPOLITICS IN THE NEWS section, located on the top left side of this site. 

Gov. Jon Corzine's nominations for Chief Justice and Attorney General have been listed on the Senate Judiciary Committee agenda for Thursday.  Corzine has named Stuart Rabner to succeed James Zazzali as Chief Justice, and Anne Milgram to replace Rabner as Attorney General.

New Jersey Republicans adopt winner-take-all rule, Tom Wilson wins another term, Gill refuses to explain why she's holding up Rabner nomination, Democrats defend Gill, Tom Moran on Lesly Devereaux,National Democrats pouring resources into defeating Frank LoBiondo

Democrats defended Sen. Nia Gill Thursday and tried to keep their heads raised in what U.S. Attorney Chris Christie says is a veritable house - and senate - of shame.

Christie brought both arms down on top of the Legislature yesterday as he fumed about senatorial foot-dragging and slammed lawmakers for not promptly moving to approve Gov. Jon Corzine’s nomination of Attorney General Stuart Rabner to the office of Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.

The word got out early to the press corps on Wednesday morning.  Get to the Annual Luncheon of the 200 Club of Mercer County, a group dedicated to helping the families of public safety and rescue personnel killed in the line of duty, a great cause.  But the news maker would be Christopher Christie, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, who was the event's keynote speaker and would have something important to say.  Christie planned to discuss the hold-up in the confirmation of Stuart Rabner, his former colleague and still close friend, as the next chief justice of the state court.