On the other side, there were huzzahs: "New Jersey's most vulnerable and low-income residents will once again have an entity and process in place to implement the state's fair housing laws, including local affordable housing obligations, ensuring an array of choices to call home throughout the state," said COAH's executive director, Staci Berger.

Housing advocates have fought the Christie move to abolish COAH through every political and legal twist in the road, citing the extreme shortage of affordable housing in the state. They say an independent agency with muscle is the only way to effectively deal with the problem.

The Supreme Court case was filed in 2011. After the Legislature approved a Democrat-sponsored bill to eliminate COAH, Christie had vetoed the measure as unworkable. He then tried to impose a reorganization plan that transferred COAH's duties to the state Department of Community Affairs, which prompted the lawsuit.

Last year, a lower court rejected the governor's argument that his move was legal. Christie appealed to the top state court, which upheld the lower court ruling.

Adam Gordon, an attorney for the Fair Share Housing Center which was a party to the suit, said the court decision means decisions about affordable housing will be more “transparent.” He said, "It's a bad idea for policies involving homes for working families, people with special needs and lower-income seniors to be made behind closed doors."

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