Ronald Rice Archives - New Jersey Globe

Trailblazer: Senator Ronald Rice

January 17, 2022 12:16 amJanuary 16, 2022 10:17 pm

Ronald L. Rice (D-Newark) is the longest-serving Black legislator in New Jersey history and has made his mark as an advocate for social justice and civil rights. Rice was elected to the State Senate in a 1986 special election following...

Trailblazer: U.S. Senator Cory Booker

January 17, 2022 12:10 amJanuary 16, 2022 10:16 pm

Cory Booker, is the first Black to win statewide office in New Jersey. He was elected to the United States Senate in 2013, winning a special election to replace the late Frank R. Lautenberg. Booker sought the 2020 Democratic nomination...

N.J. Judiciary lacks diversity at highest levels, where 80% of appellate court judges are white

January 17, 2022 12:02 amJanuary 16, 2022 10:14 pm

This story was first published on November 15, 2021. After the Legislature passed a special pension bill at the request of the Chief Justice, Judge Grant was reappointed in December 2021. The upcoming retirement of one of the state’s highest-ranking...

Legislature swears in 21 new members as 220th session begins

January 11, 2022 4:09 pmJanuary 11, 2022 6:26 pm

The New Jersey State Legislature swore in 21 new members today to mark the beginning of the 220th legislative session, following last year’s election that saw Republicans make significant gains across the state. Among the new members are three Asian...

N.J. Judiciary lacks diversity at highest levels, where 80% of appellate court judges are white

November 15, 2021 12:01 amNovember 15, 2021 10:34 pm

The upcoming retirement of one of the state’s highest-ranking Black jurists puts Chief Justice Stuart Rabner’s record of promoting mostly white judges on display at a time when Black and Hispanic leaders are upset that the state’s top three posts...

Gill is making second bid for Senate President

November 10, 2021 11:16 amNovember 10, 2021 12:28 pm

The contest for Senate President between Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) and Nia Gill (D-Montclair) represents Gill’s second bid to lead the upper house: she mounted a last-minute challenged Richard Codey (D-Roseland) for the post when the Senate reorganized in 2004. Gill...

Black clergyman objects to ‘three white men running the state again’

November 8, 2021 12:01 amNovember 7, 2021 9:17 pm

With Nia Gill (D-Montclair) entering the race for Senate President, one of New Jersey’s most respected clergymen – and a close political ally of Gov. Phil Murphy – repeated his call for a woman of color to succeed Steve Sweeney...