Chris Christie

Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivered his eighth and final state of the state address Tuesday. While he took the opportunity to boast of his record on taxes, the economy and jobs, he also pointed to a near fully populated state court bench and the revamped bail system as major accomplishments.

Christie, the first governor since Thomas Kean to serve two full four-year terms, said the state is better off than when—nine years ago, as U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey—he decided to run for governor.

“We need to remember where we were nine years ago, on the brink of financial ruin as a state,” he said. “We needed tough leadership to deal with these problems.”