January 10, 2013 at 11:55 A.M. NYPL, Morningside Heights, #10. Graphics have been altered, size makes writing difficult, but I will do my best to make necessary revisions on this essay.
January 9, 2013 at 12:00 P.M. I am at NYPL, Inwood, #6. It was necessary to reboot this computer immediately before I was able to use it. I cannot say whether this will affect my use of the computer or my ability to sign-in at this or any other computer in the future. I will do my best to continue writing from some library computer, every day.
Anthony Campisi & Melissa Hayes, "Christie Aims for 'Balance': Dems Reserve Judgment On Court Nominees," in The Record, December 11, 2012, at p. A-1.
Governor Christie has made an overture to Stephen M. Sweeney, Esq. and Richard J. Codey, Esq. in an effort to move forward the appointment process for candidates to the New Jersey Supreme Court.
This "overture" (Christie hopes) will obviate the necessity for "Shadow Governor," Stuart Rabner, to appoint another person named "Stern" (or "Rodriguez"?) to the fill a vacancy on the court.
Curiously, many of these appointees are "controllable" by the N.J. Chief Justice. I wonder why that is? ("No More Cover-Ups and Lies, Chief Justice Rabner!")
The political struggle over the Supreme Court in Trenton is about Democrats in the Garden State ("care for a Jersey tomato?") holding on to control of the judiciary despite the Republican chief executive's efforts to create a "balanced and diverse" judiciary that just happens to be filled with white middle-aged males. ("New Jersey's Legal System is a Whore House!")
The trouble for "Boss Stuart" is not that appointees are insufficiently "diverse," but that they must be controllable by him. Stuart seeks to walk the line between the Democrat machine and Republican money, while remaining obliged to the "bosses" he must please at all times. ("New Jersey's Feces-Covered Supreme Court" and "New Jersey Supreme Court's Implosion" then "New Jersey's Disgraced Judiciary.")
New Jersey's Bar Association has its own hierarchy and rituals lovingly performed and submitted to by persons who have kissed a number of posteriors in order to get into a position to be nominated for the top spots. ("Mafia Influence in New Jersey Courts and Politics.")
Christie is bypassing the "old boy and girl network." This is not pleasing to the legal powers that be in New Jersey. Dozens of comfortable and well-fed lawyers have discovered that, with the election of a Republican governor, they have spent decades kissing the posteriors of the wrong people. Worse, they have made donations to the out-of-office corrupt politicians as opposed to the in-office corrupt politicians. ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")
Democrats have struggled to take away in the Trenton Senate Chamber what the people of New Jersey granted in the ballot box: the governor's EXCLUSIVE power to appoint judges. ("Christie Attacks New Jersey's Corrupt Judges.")
New Jersey's courts are among the most corrupt in the nation or even in the world. It has been alleged by academics and journalists that New Jersey's judiciary is controlled by organized crime and the shady machine politics of the county bosses and behind-the scenes players that have made New Jersey, "The Soprano State."
The latest warm bodies to be submitted for N.J. Senate confirmation are DAVID BAUMAN, an undistinguished judge from Monmouth County, and ROBERT M. HANA, a Christie crony from the U.S. Attorney's Office and equally undistinguished lawyer.
Rabner was just as undistinguished, come to think of it, Poritz was way below their level of mediocrity. In fact, these are the persons who give mediocrity a bad name. No wonder the judiciary has become a disgrace in New Jersey. ("New Jersey's Unethical Judiciary" and "New Jersey's Politically Connected Lawyers On the Tit" then "Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics.")
Sadly, Ariel Rodriguez and Jose Fuentes are not in the running for the high court. As regards my matters, both men have said: "They don't know from nothing." Nevertheless, there is a fear that, at least one of those two, may be controlled by Senator Bob. I doubt it.
It cannot be confirmed, at this time, that Judges Fuentes and Rodriguez will be changing their names to "Stern" and "Cohen," respectively.
Mr. Rabner may be seeking instructions from Jerusalem. Bob Menendez is seeking instructions from Miami. Mr. Christie is seeking instructions -- and this is very odd! -- from Mr. Obama. ("What did you know, Mr. Rabner, and when did you know it?" and "Have you no shame, Mr. Rabner?")
The breaking Bigica scandal with implications for Bob Menendez and others will be examined in a future post. ("Illegal Payments to Bob Menendez.")
A list of sources detailing the usual revolting corruption, incompetence, theft, and perjury as well as general unsightly spectacle of New Jersey's failed legal system will be attached to this essay in the days ahead.
Sources:
New York & the World:
David Enrlich & Jean Englesham, "UBS in Talks Over $1 BILLION Penalty," in The Wall Street Journal, December 14, 2012, at p. A1. (Best coverage of financial scandal, surprisingly, is found in The Wall Street Journal. HSBC faces $1.9 BILLION in criminal fines, and another $200 MILLION for various civil assessments concerning credit "irregularities." Barclays, Credit Suisse, as well as others -- Morgan Stanley -- are also facing hefty penalties, but no one is going to prison. How strange? "So Black and So Blue in Prison.")
Damien Cave, "American Held in Cuba Takes Aim at Impasse," in The New York Times, November 29, 2012, at p. A6. (Please release ALAN GROSS and allow him to return to his family.)
Sharon Otterman, "Photos of Accuser on Stand Disrupt Sexual Abuse Trial," in The New York Times, November 30, 2012, at p. A29. (Trial of "ultra-Orthodox Jewish counsellor," NECHEMYA WEBERMAN, accused of repeatedly molesting a girl, divides a community.)
Ben Peters & Mark Scott, "UBS is Reported to be Near a Deal on Rate-Rigging," in The New York Times, December 3, 2012, at p. A1. (Disclosures of more banks engaging in a common scheme of "rate-fixing." Criminal conspiracy enhances penalties. Still, no executives are going to prison. "Foucault, Rose, Davis and the Meanings of Prison.")
Susanne Craig, "Trader at Morgan Stanley Faces Inquiry on Possible Manipulation," in The New York Times, December 3, 2012, at p. A1. (Glen Hadden of Morgan Stanley gets to meet the feds. Mr. Hadden will probably not go to prison. "Richard A. Posner and Voluntary Actions and Criminal Responsibility.")
Charlie Savage, "Senate Votes to Limit Detentions Without Trial," in The New York Times, December 2, 2012, at p. A16. (U.S. citizens and green card holders may not be held indefinitely without trial. I thought the Constitution already provides for confrontation and due process of law. Is this vote superfluous? "America's Torture Lawyers.")
Sharon Otterman, "Hasidic Man Denies Abuse Of a Young Girl He Counselled," in The New York Times, December 6, 2012, at p. A29. (Continuing probe into counselling practices in Hasidic community.)
"A Check On Bad Eyewitness Identifications," (Editorial) in The New York Times, December 6, 2012, at p. A34. (Finally, a shifting of the burden to prosecutors in recollection and identification cases.)
Jessica Silver-Greenberg, "Mortgage Crisis Presents Banks a New Reckoning," in The New York Times, December 10, 2012, at p. A1. ($300 BILLION and counting in civil lawsuits against banks in the credit crisis, so far. No culprit is going to prison. "Justice For Mumia Abu-Jamal.")
Ariel Kamner, "Where Theory and Research Meet to Jam About the Mind," in The New York Times, December 10, 2012, at p. A20. (Philosophers and neuroscientists communicate at yearly music festival, but are they fully conscious?)
New Jersey's "Forget-About-It-Situation":
Adrian Saenz, "Teachers Part of Test-Taking Fraud," in The Record, November 26, 2012, at p. A-4. (Ethics?)
Rebecca D. O'Brien, "Judge Dismisses Suit Tied to Forgery Case: Tangled Legal Battle Involves Bergen Democratic Figures," in The Record, November 26, 2012, at p. L-6. (Mayor Tim Durkall of Bergenfield and Sen. Loretta Weinberg accused of using their authority and legal proceedings to target an enemy, secretly, by using fraud charges. Democrat judge tosses the lawsuit, may go to federal court now.)
Justo Bautista, "Man Charged With Sex Assault," in The Record, November 27, 2012, at p. L-2. (Franklin Ponce -- "Ponce" is "pimp" in the UK -- is charged with sexual assault. $250,000 bail. Check on authenticity of this name and non-US priors with Interpol, Mr. Molinelli.)
Shawn Boburg, "$300 MILLION to Repair PATH," in The Record, November 28, 2012, at p. A-1. ($200 MILLION to actually fix the trains; $100 MILLION for the mafia to allow you to do the work in New Jersey. "New Jersey is the Home of the Living Dead" and "Cement is Gold!")
Richard Cowen, "Subpoena Issued in Use of Generators North Haledon Mayor May face Charges," in The Record, November 28, 2012, at p. L-2. (Mayor Randy George may have a problem.)
Melissa Hayes & Herb Jackson, "N.J.'s Storm Bill $37 BILLION: Christie Names Rebuilding Chief," in The Record, November 29, 2012, at p. A-1. (How much will actually reach those who need help, if anything? Will Speaker Boehner make Christie pay a price for his "embrace" of President Obama during the election?)
Peter J. Sampson, "Two North Jersey Union Leaders Deny Embezzling $350,000; Charged in Scheme to Benefit a Spouse," in The Record, November 29, 2012, at p. L-1. (Richard "Buzzy" Dressel and John M. Debouter say they will support Christie for reelection if all charges are dropped. Christie says: "No dice!")
Anthony Campisi, "In Making Tally Official, New Jersey Reports 67% Voted," in The Record, December 10, 2012, at p. A-3. (About 5% of that number voted from beyond the grave, often more than once.)
Richard Cowen, "Prostitution Sweep Nets 14: 'Quality of Life' Campaign in Passaic County," in The Record, December 10, 2012, at p. L-2. (Names of customers and/or police or politicians who allowed this organization to flourish for so long are not disclosed. I wonder why? "So Black and So Blue in Prison" and "America's Holocaust.")
Abbott-Koloff, "Traffic Stop Nets Heroin Suspects: Police Uncover $80,000 in Drugs," in The Record, December 14, 2012, at p. L-1. (TONS of CDS -- i.e., "Controlled Dangerous Substances" -- comes across the GW bridge, every day, into New York city. Fort Lee and other local communities cannot handle the problem and may be hampered by intractable corruption as well as incompetence in efforts to limit the volume of material -- including illegal guns -- crossing the bridge in both directions. This bridge must become a federal responsibility.)
