Saturday’s scheduled vote by Morris County Republicans to create a “county line” has been postponed by court order.

The Friday afternoon ruling in state Superior Court, Morristown, seems to have increased the tension surrounding the issue.

Laura Ali, the party chair and a proponent of a line, condemned “obstructionists ….. acting out of their own self-interest and not for the good of the party.”

And if that continues, Ali says Democrats may take control of Morris County.

John Sette, a former chair himself, and David Scapicchio, a former freeholder, filed suit to stop Saturday’s vote on procedural grounds. They said the Saturday meeting was not noticed at least two weeks in advance, which violates the organization’s bylaws.

This is an arcane point to be sure, but court rulings often turn on arcane points. Maritza Berdote Byrne, the chancery or equity judge, issued a restraining order to stop the Saturday vote pending a hearing next Tuesday.

Ali and other supporters say a county line would empower committee members to select and endorse the best candidates to run against Democrats in the fall.

Opponents say the current, “open” primary system encourages new candidates with new ideas, thereby keeping the party strong. Under the current system, all candidates run on their own without official support from the county organization.

Ali was adamant in defending her position.

“The Democratic Party has gotten stronger in Morris County and the Republicans are losing ground because of obstructionists like this who spend their time trying to derail positive forward momentum, instead of spending time getting candidates elected,” she said in a statement  “If objectors such as David Scapicchio and John Sette and their group worked half this hard during the election, Rosemary Becchi and Tom Kean would be in Washington D.C. as members of the United States Congress.”

Becchi and Kean lost races for House seats last fall in Districts 11 and 7.

Ali also said that the dissenters need to “put their egos and interest aside and become team players and help us build a stronger Morris GOP.”

The chairwoman contended that the judge was “misled” and said the county organization was not given a chance to present its side. Ali added that she is looking forward to her day in court next Tuesday.