New Jersey could have two new Supreme Court judges in just a matter of days, helping to fill long-standing vacancies within the high court. At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday, nominees Rachel Wainer Apter and Douglas Fasciale were released to get a vote by the Senate next week.
Wainer Apter, a Democrat, was nominated by Gov. Phil Murphy 19 months ago. Her confirmation was held up by Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen), who represents Wainer Apter’s home county and used an unwritten Trenton rule known as “senatorial courtesy” to block her appointment. Schepisi recently agreed to approve the nomination after agreeing with Murphy to put Republican Judge Fasciale on the court, as a way to maintain the tradition of partisan balance.
Fasciale is a superior court judge and has been temporarily filling one of the three vacant seats on the high court. The judiciary committee also approved the reappointment of seven superior court judges.
