Gov. Phil Murphy’s pick for a seat on the New Jersey Supreme Court now has the backing of a majority of members of the State Senate Judiciary Committee after Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) announced his support of John Jay Hoffman’s confirmation.
“I worked closely with John Hoffman during his three years as acting attorney general,” Sarlo stated. “He earned the trust of law enforcement and stakeholders across the criminal justice system by being a fair-minded prosecutor dedicated to enforcing the law. I look forward to voting for his confirmation to the New Jersey Supreme Court.”
With Sarlo, Hoffman now has six committed votes on the eleven-member panel.
Hoffman, the Rutgers University general counsel, also picked up the backing of Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), a Middlesex County Democrat.
“I am pleased to support the nomination of John Hoffman to the New Jersey Supreme Court,” said Greenstein. “A proud son of Middlesex County, John is well-known in the legal community for his fairness, intellect, and dedication to public service. He will be an outstanding addition to our state’s highest court.”
With Sarlo and Greenstein, Hoffman now has 15 of the 21 votes needed to win Senate confirmation to become an associate justice. Murphy tapped him to replace Lee A. Solomon, who must retire in August when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Hoffman appears to be poised for an easy confirmation as long as he clears one initial benchmark: senatorial courtesy. The two senators from his home county, Burlington, must sign off on his nomination for it to be considered by the Judiciary Committee; Troy Singleton (D-Delran) and Latham Tiver (R-Southampton) have not get signaled their support.
Earlier today, Hoffman’s nomination received the approval of the New Jersey State Bar Association Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee (JPAC). Murphy voluntarily agreed to sign the Hughes Compact, an agreement initially forged by Gov. Richard J. Hughes in 1969 that permitted the organization to review the nominations of judges and prosecutors in a confidential process. Hughes went through that process four years later when Gov. William Cahill nominated him to serve as chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Brian P. Stack (D-Union City) was the first senator to announce his support of Hoffman; Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch), Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus), and Robert Smith (D-Piscataway are also on board.
Hoffman also has the backing of Senate President Nicholas Scutari, John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro), Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield), Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood), Raj Mukherji (D-Jersey City), Declan O’Scanlon (R-Little Silver), Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township), and Douglas Steinhardt (R-Hopatcong).
