The New Jersey Senate on Monday unanimously confirmed John Jay Hoffman to be an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Hoffman will succeed former Justice Lee A. Solomon, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 last month. Hoffman is Rutgers University’s general counsel and served as acting attorney general under former Gov. Chris Christie from 2013 to 2016.
Senate President Nicholas Scutari said he was proud to recommend Hoffman to the governor’s office and called the appointee “truly a public servant.”
“He is truly a public servant, looking to serve the public and truly sacrificing an opportunity to make lots and lots of money in the private sector,” Scutari said.
Solomon, a Republican, was sworn in as a Christie appointee in June of 2014. The 59-year-old Hoffman will have about 11 years on the bench if he chooses to serve until the mandatory retirement age.
“I am incredibly pleased that the State Senate has confirmed John Jay Hoffman with bipartisan support to serve as an Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a release. “As demonstrated by his unanimous confirmation today, John has earned universal respect on both sides of the aisle for his honesty, integrity, and intellect.”
Murphy nominated Hoffman on June 10, and State Sen. Latham Tiver (R-Southampton) cleared the way for Hoffman’s appointment last month. Tiver, a freshman Republican, had to approve Hoffman under the Senate’s unwritten rule of senatorial courtesy, which prevents consideration of a governor’s nominee until home county senators signed off.
The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Hoffman’s appointment last Thursday during a short and nearly question-free hearing.
State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) praised Hoffman’s appointment during Monday afternoon’s Senate session.
“The demeanor of the judge, the heart of the judge, is so very important to everyone in a courtroom,” Bramnick said. “I know of no one who has a bigger heart or is more sensitive to mankind and man than John Hoffman.”
Hoffman is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday.