Gov. Chris Christie today called on Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) to post a bill tomorrow that would eliminate New Jersey’s constitutional guarantee of bail to all defendants and give judges the ability to detain violent offenders.
“If it is put on the board, it will pass,” Christie said.
However, some lower house legislators say they won’t support the measure without inducements. The details of the entire bail reform package remain in a state of flux, according to skeptical lower house lawmakers.
Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-36) earlier today told PolitickerNJ that before he can sign on he would like to see the legislation forged into one bill, to prevent the governor from vetoing pieces of the package.
Christie does support the other bill in the package that would allow judges to use discretion in releasing low-level, predominately non-violent offenders who would likely not be in jail if they could afford monetary bail.
After making his statement this afternoon, Christie did not take reporters’ questions.
