Bush tussles with NJ Sens. over court nominee

By · August 2, 2007

The Bush administration is in a dispute with New Jersey’s U.S. senators over a judicial nomination.

Shalom Stone, a lawyer who graduated from Yeshiva University, is the Bush administration’s nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He would replace Samuel Alito, who ascended last year to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The White House did not consult in the July 19 nomination with Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both Democrats, although such consultations are a traditional courtesy.

“The White House is basically telling us, ‘We do not want to cooperate on this nomination,’” Dan Katz, Lautenberg’s spokesman, told the New Jersey Jewish News “It is clear they are not acting in good faith to pick a judge for New Jersey. There is clearly another agenda at play. What it is, only the White House knows.” Stone is a member of the conservative Federalist Society.

Neither senator would commit to blocking Stone’s nomination.