AGREEMENT STRUCK TO ALLOW SUPREME COURT NOMINEE TO BE CONSIDERED

A deal has been struck that could potentially allow Gov. Chris Christie’s nominee to fill a Supreme Court seat. Anne Paterson had been nominated to fill a vacancy left by former Justice John Wallace Jr., when Christie did not renominate him. Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto plans to step down from the bench in September and Senate President Steve Sweeney has agreed to back the nominee to fill Rivera-Soto’s seat. The seat for Wallace will is being filled by Senior Appellate Court Judge Edwin Stern, but he must retire in June.