The political affiliation of three nominees for the Hudson County Superior Court bench were front and center at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Thursday, with several Republican committee members voicing concern and disapproval of candidates who recently changed  their political party.

Peter J. Baker, who most recently served as corporation counsel in Jersey City, was the first nominee to the Superior Court to come before the committee Thursday. He took the opportunity in his opening statement to thank his former colleagues and his wife, who also formerly worked for the Jersey City Department of Law. Baker shared that his wife could not join him for the hearing as she is preparing to undergo heart surgery.