NJ Court Blocks Swearing in of Assemblywoman-Elect

The New Jersey State Supreme Court has issued a last-minute order to block the swearing in of a woman elected to the state Assembly.

Republicans have challenged Gabriela Mosquera's election, saying she did not meet the state constitutional requirement that a candidate live in the district for a year before being elected.

Mosquera, a Democrat, moved into the 4th District in southern New Jersey's Gloucester and Camden Counties in December 2010.

The state Supreme Court order came Tuesday shortly before the swearing-in was scheduled. Justice Barry Albin dissented from the order.

The ruling in the quick-moving case came one day after an appeals court ruled she should be sworn in. That ruling set aside one from last week saying Mosquera should be denied the seat.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)