NJ Supreme Court Takes on Judicial Benefits Case, Christie Fumes
Fair Courts E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Sam Favate
Source: Wall Street Journal Law blog
Date: November 11, 2011
Last Wednesday the New Jersey Supreme Court announced it will decide whether judges and justices are exempt from Governor Chris Christie’s recent overhaul of public worker benefit contributions. Earlier this summer, Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale sued to enjoin implementation of the law, which would require judges to contribute more for their benefits, claiming that it violates the state Constitution, which says judges’ salaries cannot be reduced. When Superior Court Assignment Judge Linda Feinberg ruled in DePascale’s favor last month, Governor Christie called for a constitutional amendment and, on Thursday, Republican state Senator Diane B. Allen introduced a bill that will provide for the vote on the constitutional amendment.
See also: Charles Stile, Christie's Anti-Judge Campaign Falls Flat, Bergen Record, November 8, 2011; Jason Method, NJ Supreme Court Accepts Case On Judges' Pensions, Asbury Park Press , November 11, 2011; MaryAnn Spoto, Christie Slams N.J. Supreme Court For Fast-Tracking Challenge to Judges' Health-Benefits Law, Newark Star-Ledger, November 10, 2011.