Christie: Boro Mayor 'Supremely Qualified' for Bench

Gov. Chris Christie's office released a statement late Thursday calling Chatham Borough Mayor Bruce Harris "supremely qualified for the New Jersey Supreme Court," only hours before Harris' confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin.

"Mr. Harris currently serves as the Mayor of Chatham Borough and is a lawyer with an impressive combined 40 years of legal, political, and business experience," the statement reads in part.

The statement goes on to detail Harris' endorsements from Reg. Reginald T. Jackson of the Black Ministers Council, Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality, and the New Jersey Bar Association.

It also includes a chart comparing Harris' experience with other justices currently sitting on the state Supreme Court. The document can be found in the Photos & Documents section of this article.

"Upon looking at these basic and obvious facts, Bruce Harris has the breadth of experience—legal, government and business—and intellect to stand alongside members of the New Jersey Supreme Court, past and present," the statement reads.

"However, Senate Democrats—in the open and anonymously—have tried to baselessly and shamelessly disparage and poison Bruce Harris’ nomination on the basis of so-called 'qualifications.'"

The statement is the latest of several released by Christie's office this week in anticipation of Harris' hearing.

Harris, the oldest of 12 siblings, was raised in Iowa. He graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College in 1973 and earned an MBA in finance and economics from Boston University in 1979 and a law degree from Yale Law School in 1992.

"When you look at the facts and backgrounds of the members of court at their time of nomination, it’s abundantly clear that the Democratic position lacks any basis in reality," the statement reads.

In 1981, he moved from Boston to a home on Elmwood Avenue in Chatham Borough, where he still lives in with Boisclair.

While serving on the Environmental Commission, Dick Plambeck asked Harris to serve out his term as council member while he served as mayor. Harris stood for election to the council twice since then, once in 2005 and once in 2008.

If confirmed, Harris will be the third black man and first openly gay man to sit on the state Supreme Court.