With Oliver hospitalized, acting governor post transferred to Scutari

The constitutional powers of acting governor, while Phil Murphy is on a family vacation in Italy, will be transferred to Senate President Nicholas Scutari while Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver is in the hospital and unable to perform the duties of the post, the governor’s office announced today.

Oliver has been dealing with some personal health issues for quite a while, but this is the first time she has been unable to also serve as acting governor.

Murphy left on Friday evening and is due to return to New Jersey on August 13.

It’s not immediately clear if Scutari will hold the post for the duration of the governor’s absence, or if Oliver will return prior to August 13 as her health improves.

The Senate President is second in the line of succession, followed by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Attorney General Matt Platkin, and Commissioner of Transportation Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti.  In the event that none of the five would be available to serve as acting governor, the duties would fall upon Senate President Pro-Tempore Sandra Cunningham, who has been absent from Trenton since June 2022 as a result of cognitive health issues; a Superior Court judge has appointed a guardian for her since Cunningham is no longer able to manage her personal affairs.

Scutari has been acting governor twice since assuming the Senate presidency in 2022.  The post, once designed to take on the full responsibilities of the office in an era when governors were unreachable during certain periods of out-of-state travel, is now largely ceremonial since modern technology allows governors to remain in touch from any location.

“Lieutenant Governor Oliver is currently receiving medical care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and is unable to discharge the duties of Acting Governor at this time. Pursuant to Article V, Section I, paragraph 7 of the New Jersey Constitution, Senate President Scutari has assumed the duties of Acting Governor effective this morning,” the governor’s office said in a statement from communications director Mahen Gunaratna.  “We wish the Lieutenant Governor well as she undergoes medical care. We will provide updates to the situation as they arise.”

Update at 11:17 AM:  “Pursuant to Constitutional mandates, I have again assumed the responsibilities of Acting Governor with a commitment to faithfully discharge the duties of the Office,” Scutari said.  “I want to extend my best wishes to Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver for a rapid and healthy recovery. We look forward to her return.”