Timpone Nomination May Move Quickly

There is the potential that Governor Christie’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Walter Timpone, could appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee as early as tomorrow.  Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) said that is “the goal,” but that arrangements for an appearance then had not been solidified.  “One of his hometown senators has not yet had the opportunity to meet with him and to sign off on his application,” Scutari said, according to a report in the Star-Ledger.

That same report cited a statement by Senator Scutari that if Timpone appears before and is cleared by the Judiciary Committee tomorrow, his nomination could be taken up by the full Senate on Monday, April 25.  Timpone appears to have significant bipartisan support, though Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) has stated her intent to engage in a “thorough interrogation” of Timpone regarding an issue arising out of his service on the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.  The issue involves Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, a Democrat with whom Governor Christie has been close.