NJ Gov. Chris Christie Blasts Pension Ruling and Judicial 'Elitists'; State Bar Blasts Christie
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called a news conference on Tuesday to blast a ruling that judges are exempt from a state law requiring state employees to pay more for pension and health benefits.
Judge Linda Feinberg ruled Monday that judges can’t be required to pay more because of the state constitutional ban on judicial pay cuts, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. Christie told reporters that the decision is “self-interested and outrageous,” and he vowed to seek a constitutional amendment to change the result.
According to the Star-Ledger account, “Christie’s criticism ran the gamut, from accusing Feinberg of protecting ‘cronies’ to describing all judges as ‘elitists’ trying to take money from taxpayers.”
New Jersey State Bar Association President Susan Feeney responded in a statement calling Christie’s personal criticism of Feinberg “unwarranted and irresponsible.” Christie’s remarks are a “blatant attempt to mislead the public and influence the judicial process,” the statement says.
