Gov. Phil Murphy announced he will renominate Rachel Wainer Apter to fill a vacancy on the New Jersey Supreme Court. The Senate did not confirm the civil rights attorney before the last legislative session ended on Tuesday. Lack of approval by Republican Sen. Holly Schepisi stalled the confirmation.
Schepisi represents Bergen County and by law has the power to stop a Supreme Court nominee from advancing, if the nominee resides in her district. Wainer Apter is a resident of Englewood, Bergen County. Concerns over the court’s balance of power kept Schepisi from letting Wainer Apter’s nomination move forward but she said that after conversations with the Murphy administration, she is moving closer to a decision. If she’s confirmed, Wainer Apter would shift the makeup of the court and put Democratic justices in the majority.
