Corzine Picks Nominee
for Attorney General
By RICHARD LEZIN
JONES, from the NYTimes on the Web, January 12, 2006
TRENTON, Jan. 11 --
Governor-elect Jon S. Corzine nominated a prominent Cuban-born lawyer on
Wednesday to be New Jersey's next attorney general.
It is the second time in recent years that the nominee, Zulima V. Farber, has
been considered for an important position in state government.
In 2003, Gov. James E. McGreevey considered nominating her for a seat on the
State Supreme Court but abandoned the idea upon learning that Ms. Farber was the
subject of a bench warrant after failing to appear in court after being ticketed
for unsafe driving. Ms. Farber, who is 61, said at the time that she never
received notice of the court hearing. She later resolved the case by
paying a fine.
Aides to Mr. Corzine said he was confident that the issue was behind her and
that her nomination would be confirmed by the full Senate, after being heard by
the Judiciary Committee.
Ms. Farber, a former assistant prosecutor in Bergen County and a former New
Jersey public advocate, said she was not worried about the issue or the scrutiny
that the confirmation process entails.
"I respect very much the responsibility of the Judiciary Committee and I look
forward to that process," she said on Wednesday in a telephone interview.
Lawmakers said Ms. Farber's confirmation process would be rigorous.
Leonard Lance, the leader of the Republican minority in the Senate, said in a
statement, "There needs to be a thorough review of Ms. Farber's qualifications
and temperament."
Ms. Farber has been chosen to lead the attorney general's office at a crucial
moment. Legislators have criticized the office and have questioned what
some said was its lagging response to allegations of public corruption.
Republicans have charged that Attorney General Peter C. Harvey showed little
inclination to pursue accusations of corruption among his fellow Democrats.
Ms. Farber would be the first Hispanic person nominated to the job.
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