State Sen. Douglas Steinhardt (R-Lopatcong), a former Republican state chairman, told the New Jersey Globe today that he’ll vote to confirm John Jay Hoffman for a seat on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Steinhardt becomes the ninth member of the State Senate to announce their support of Hoffman, who was nominated on Monday by Gov. Phil Murphy to serve as an associate justice.
“I am happy to support the nomination of John Hoffman to the New Jersey Supreme Court,” Steinhardt said. “The knowledge and experience he’s accumulated during his distinguished legal career will make him an invaluable member of the State’s highest court.”
The Rutgers University general counsel and former acting attorney general of New Jersey, Hoffman is slated to succeed Lee A. Soliman, who reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 in August. While Hoffman is not affiliated with any political party, Republicans view him as an acceptable replacement for Soliman, a Republican, on a top court that traditionally has a partisan balance.
Steinhardt, a staunch conservative, is the third Republican senator to announce his backing of Hoffman, along with Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) and Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township).
Six Senate Democrats are on record in support of Hoffman: Senate President Nicholas Scutari; Judiciary Committee Chairman Brian P. Stack; Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch); Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus); Raj Mukherji (D-Jersey City); and Robert Smith (D-Piscataway).
