Juliet Fletcher, "Courts Are a Fallible Target for Christie: Contempt, Criticism, Come as No Surprise," in The Record, February 20, 2012, at p. A-1.
Tensions between New Jersey's Governor Christopher Christie and lawyers as well as the state's soiled judiciary -- a judiciary stained by continuing allegations of disgusting political corruption -- have escalated. No wonder they want to stop me from writing. ("How censorship works in America" and "Censorship and Cruelty in New Jersey.")
There is much wringing of hands over Mr. Christie's struggle against Stuart Rabner's highly politically-partisan Supreme Court and the state bar association's efforts to undermine political reform efforts at the request of forces which have grown accustomed to the legal system's protection of their power while their enemies are targeted for professional destruction. ("New Jersey's Politically-Connected Lawyers On the Tit" and "Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")
"... 'Where we've gotten off the tracks here is that the Supreme Court has acted like a superior branch of government, not a coequal branch of government,' Christie said in April, 2009."
Allegations of bribes -- as well as the assumption of intellectual or moral "superiority" attributed to Mr. Rabner -- in the form of support for appointments to the Superior Court bench in exchange for judges "cooperation" with organized crime and the state's dirty politics have been common for years. Politicians like judges who are indebted to them. ("George E. Norcross, III, is the Boss of New Jersey's Politics and Law.")
Conventional wisdom among lawyers indicated that fifteen to twenty-five thousand dollars in cash would buy you an appointment to the Superior Court bench, after ten years in practice. A little more money would get you past the bar association's evaluations and the OAE's secret so-called "four-way check." I will be delighted to name lawyers who said such things to me.
The primary consideration for approval of judicial performances was and is loyalty to the Democratic machine's "bosses." This may explain why Mr. Menendez has escaped ethics actions or criminal charges. ("Is Menendez For Sale?" and "Senator Bob, the Babe, and the Big Bucks" then "Does Senator Menendez Have Mafia Friends?" and "Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics.")
"This pattern of politicizing the judicial branch is leading to the loss [of] public trust in the courts" -- New Jersey's judges have lost the right to ask for that trust! -- "says one analyst tracking the issue. And that loss of trust and increased partisanship come at the same time as lawmakers, activists and others try to push the state's policies through the courts to test political ideas to their limit."
As Alexander Hamilton wrote, the courts do not have funding power nor the military means to enforce their rulings. Courts rely on the other branches of government. When courts usurp non-judicial powers by presuming to legislate in areas where they lack expertise, a practice that has plagued the Poritz-Rabner courts (hubris?), the result is catastrophic for the Constitutional balance of powers. I do not believe that Mr. Rabner is intellectually or morally "superior" to other persons. ("New Jersey's Feces-Covered Supreme Court" and "New Jersey's Political and Judicial Whores.")
Well-intentioned efforts at social meliorism that have disastrous effects which are harmful to everyone, including the court itself, must be curtailed and the damage must be controlled. Ignoring this situation may be suicidal, Mr. Rabner.
Judges, like Paul De Pascale and his "crony" (Governor Christie's term) Linda Feinberg, both of whom sought to exempt themselves from austerity cuts that affected all public employees, are partisan political operators for corrupt forces in New Jersey and self-interested agents undermining trust in a failed judicial system. Judges in the Garden State are too often unethical and grossly incompetent. ("New Jersey's Political and Judicial Whores" and "New Jersey's Judges Disgrace America.")
" ... Christie repeatedly called Feinberg's rulings 'self-interested.' He also questioned Stuart Rabner's decision to recuse himself from the case, saying he was disappointed and would have preferred Rabner to lead rather than [Poritz "crony"] Virginia Long." ("Stuart Rabner and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")
Mr. Rabner has tried to protect Deborah T. Poritz, allegedly -- by preventing charges that she traded judicial favors, or made "convenient mistakes," in exchange for lesbian sex -- from reaching a docile media. Is Jill Abramson of the Times a friend of Ms. Poritz or Mr. Rabner? ("New Jersey Supreme Court's Implosion" and "Trenton's Nasty Lesbian Love-Fest" then "Jennifer Velez is a Dyke Magnet!")
Mr. Rabner's willingness to shelter politically- or otherwise "connected" litigants (Angelo "The Horn" Prisco) and the Chief Justice's behind-the-scenes political activities (Mr. Rabner is well aware of the allegations in these blogs and of the Trenton source of the cybercrime I struggle against) on behalf of influential law firms that, no doubt, show their appreciation during the holidays, must be unacceptable in a Chief Justice of an American jurisdiction.
Mr. Rabner is far from neutral or disinterested in this unseemly PUBLIC spectacle of corruption and cover-ups as regards my matters. Mr. Rabner, your lack of concern for ethics or legality in the system over which you preside is troublesome for all who care about law in America. ("Legal Ethics and Legality" and "No More Cover-Ups and Lies, Chief Justice Rabner!")
A list of examples of corruption in New Jersey's political and legal system will be attached to this essay in the days ahead -- I hope -- despite Trenton's cybercrime and censorship.
Have you no sense of decency, Mr. Rabner?
Sources:
New York & the World:
Raphael Minder, "Spanish Judge Is Acquitted of Abusing His Authority," in The New York Times, February 28, 2012, at p. A8. (Disbarment will proceed; criminal charges have been dismissed.)
Tim Arango, "Iraq's Prime Minister Gains More Power After Political Crisis," in The New York Times, February 28, 2012, at p. A8. (4,477 U.S. service members killed in Iraq, including Staff Sergeant AHMED AL-TAIE, 41, this week; 1,884 in Afghanistan, new riots there after U.S. burns Korans; 100-125,000 Americans wounded in all regional conflicts.)
Frank Bruni, "It's a College, Not a Cloister," (Op-Ed) in The New York Times, February 28, 2012, at p. A25. (Mr. Santorum's proud anti-intellectualism.)
Rick Gladstone, "At Work in Syria, Times Correspondent Dies," in The New York Times, February 17, 2012, at p. A1. (If U.S. government entities continue to use names like "Manohla Dargis" to insert text in newspapers, real journalists will be placed in peril. U.S. media must be independent of government. Someday, the American press will be free and independent.)
"Small Thinking: Rick Santorum's Blame Government Platform is Worryingly Predictable," in The New York Times, February 17, 2012, at p. A26. (Mr. Santorum's bizarre locutions are so "snobbish.")
Declan Walsh, "Taliban Gaining More Resources From Kidnapping," in The New York Times, February 20, 2012, at p. A1. (Taliban preparing to return to power after riots in Afghanistan.)
Tim Arango, "Deadly Car-Bomb Attack Shatters Calm in Baghdad," in The New York Times, February 20, 2012, at p. A5. (Iraq continues to fall apart. Americans continue to be wounded and killed after the "end" of military hostilities.)
John Markoff, "Phyicists Create Single-Atom Transistor, A Crucial Step Towards a Nanocomputer," in The New York Times, February 20, 2012, at p. A8. (This is, possibly, the most important story in science of many years and it is not very well appreciated by many readers.)
Trip Gabriel, "Santorum Defends Remarks on Obama and Government Role in Education," in The New York Times, February 20, 2012, at p. A11. (The purpose of education is not to make us "snobs," but to allow us to recognize beauty, goodness, and meaning in our lives and make us better citizens.)
"Trust and the Supreme Court: With Public Doubts Rising, the Justices Should Commit to More Transparency," (Editorial) in The New York Times, February 20, 2012, at p. A18. (Courts belong to the people and legal processes should never threaten or undermine legality or democracy.)
New Jersey's Nightmare:
Harvey Lipman, "Agency Paid Son of CEO $2 MILLION: Official Under Fire For Hefty Nest Egg Defends Contracts," in The Record, February 26, 2012, at p. A-1. ("A local non-profit ... paid nearly $2 MILLION over nine years to a construction company owned by the son of retiring CEO, federal tax records show." This is alleged misuse of taxpayer money.)
Matt Friedman, "Top Court Overturns Assemblywoman's Election," in The Star Ledger, February 17, 2012, at p. 23. (New Jersey Supreme Court meddles in politics, again, allegedly at the request of political bosses opposed to the election of GABRIELA MOSQUERA, said to be a reformer and corruption fighter.)
J. Rundquist & J. Portnoy, "Christie Unveils 20 School Projects: He Vows No Politics in Construction Plans," in The Star Ledger, February 16, 2012, at p. 1. ("Cement is Gold." Will Christie control corruption in the Soprano State?)
Herb Jackson, "Menendez Turnaround Gives Some GOP Pause," in The Star Ledger, February 16, 2012, at p. 26. (Menendez is "petty and vindictive" in Patty Schwartz confirmation, allegedly. "Boss Bob Holds a Grudge.")
Mathew Perrone, "Counterfit Cancer Drug Makes Its Way to Doctors in the U.S.," in The Record, February 16, 2012, at p. A-10. (New Jersey corruption makes the state ideal for child sexual exploitation and for bogus drugs distributed throughout the country that kill many persons. Many of these drugs arrive in the U.S. by way of Latin America even if they originate in China.)
Peter J. Sampson, "FBI Conficates Data at Hudson Finance Agency," in The Record, February 17, 2012, at p. A-3. (Problems for lawyers and others in Hudson County involved in a real estate industry sheltered from fraud, often enough, by public officials entrusted with protecting consumers -- like the OAE focusing on unethical conduct by politically-connected attorneys that is winked at while minority solo attorneys are harassed. Lilian Munoz, Esq.? Nydia Hernandez, Esq.? Maybe Senator Bob will help with your troubles, ladies.)
Scott Fallon, "Highlands Council OKs Gas Pipeline: Vote Follows Outcry From Critics," in The Record, February 17, 2012, at p. L-1. (Allegations of corruption explain, allegedly, local officials disregard for environment and loss of forest land in allowing for gas pipelines. Will "fracking" be next?)
Mary Ann Spoto, "Assembly Says Yes to Gay Marriage," in The Star Ledger, February 17, 2012, at p. 1. (Assembly says, yes; Christie says no. Let's take it to the people not on the definition of marriage, but on whether all persons have the equal right to define marriage for themselves: "Is There a gay Marriage Right?")
Matt Friedman, "State Withholds Union City Aid Until Mayor Makes Good On Claim," in The Star Ledger, February 17, 2012, at p. 27. (My old friend Mayor Brian Stack may have LIED in state forms seeking public funds: "Is Union City, New Jersey Meyer Lansky's Whore House?" and "New Jersey is the Home of the Living Dead.")
Julia Terrero, "Caretaker Guilty of Neglecting Elderly Friend: Victim, 92, Lived in Accused's Hillside Home," in The Star Ledger, February 17, 2012, at p. 23. (Barbara Brookman, represented by Myron Bledock, Esq., may have stolen from and otherwise abused "longtime friend" and elderly tenant. Trust account troubles, Mr. Garcia? Ms. Kricko? Ray Gonzales? Are these my "ethical superiors," Mr. Rabner? Did these attorneys and others cooperate in efforts to solicit grievances against me by OAE officials acting illegally?)
