The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled Tuesday to allow New Jersey to exit the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, an agency created in the 1950s to serve as a watchdog against the mob and corrupt labor practices at the port. New Jersey lawmakers called for an end of the commission, citing a changing industry and less influence of organized crime. New York sued to block New Jersey’s exit, but in a decision written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the high court said the state has sovereign authority to withdraw from the commission.
In a statement following the decision, Gov. Phil Murphy said he’s “thrilled,” adding, “for many years, frustration over the Commission’s operations has been building. I am proud that after a five-year battle in the federal courts, where my administration used every legal tool at our disposal, New Jersey’s sovereign right to govern our ports has been vindicated.”
