TRENTON – Supreme Court nominee Bruce Harris received some support from his former employer.
Riker Danzig lawyers Edwin Chociey, Stuart Lederman and Jim Lott all testified in favor of Harris’ appointment to the court.
Chociey said that although he was not made partner, Harris’ work was uniformly of top quality.
And Lederman said that becoming partner at a major law firm is as much a factor of luck and timing as anything. Lederman said he served on the hiring committee that interviewed Harris and there was never a question about his skills.
Lott and Lederman said he possesses the intellectual curiosity and demeanor that are necessary to the high court.
But Senate committee opponents pounced on one aspect of Riker Danzig’s presence.
Responding to questions from Sen. Paul Sarlo, Lott said that Riker Danzig is borough attorney at Chatham, where Harris is mayor. He said the firm probably bills the town roughly $6,000 to $8,000 a month, and said they were recommended for the post by Harris.
