New Jersey Justice Leaves Supreme Court, Another Sworn In

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- There's a new face on the New Jersey Supreme Court and another vacancy.

Attorney Anne Patterson was privately sworn in on Thursday, more than a year after Gov. Chris Christie nominated her to become a justice. Meanwhile, Wednesday was the last day for Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto.

The change was part of a deal Christie brokered with the Legislature. Democrats blocked Patterson's nomination out of frustration with the governor, who refused to renominate Justice John Wallace for tenure.

The stalemate was finally broken this spring when Christie agreed to nominate Patterson to replace Rivera-Soto, who was planning to retire. Rivera-Soto was censured for interfering in a dispute between his son and a classmate.

Patterson will have a formal ceremony on Sept. 8.

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