James R. Zazzali and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.

February 8, 2010 at 10:20 A.M. "Errors" newly-inserted in this essay will be corrected, until next time. A few of the newly-inserted "errors" were old inserted "errors" corrected on several previous occasions. Let's hope they continue to prove my point.

June 3, 2009 at 8:58 A.M. I am still experiencing harassment and unable to access my MSN group, use images, know the status of my books. Lately, the preferred method of harassment is to delete a letter or word from one of these essays. I will do my best to make all necessary corrections.

March 13, 2008 at 5:22 P.M. Much harassment and obstacles to writing today. "Errors" were inserted in a number of posts. I have decided to discuss several more judges and practices in New Jersey courts by way of response. I have also decided to work more diligently to promote greater understanding between the U.S. and Cuba, while continuing to criticize both countries for human rights failures. More of the same telephone harassment.

March 18, 2008 at 1:49 P.M. I will struggle to make corrections.

"Court Denies a Hearing for Reputed Mobster," http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-golfclubkilling0306mar06,0,2611280,prin...

Eleanor O'Sullivan, "Book Pulls No Punches, Corruption in 'Soprano State,'" http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/LIFE11/802170311/106&temp... (March 13, 2008)

David M. Halfbinger, "Ex-Prosecutor Picked to Face Corzine in the Fall," in The New York Times, June 3, 2009, at p. A1. (Chris Christie is New Jersey's hope for legality and an end to corruption.)
William K. Rashbaum & Colin Moynahan, "At a Sentencing, Details Of Spitzer's Liasons," in The New York Times, June 3, 2009, at p. A18. (New Jersey-based prostitution ring gets Spitzer; Spitzer gets New Jersey-based prostitutes -- besides the politicians.)
Kareem Fahim, "New Jersey Man Is Accused As Organized Crime Leader," in The New York Times, May 24, 2007, at p. B4.

"ELIZABETH, N.J., May 23 -- From his base on a work site underneath the Goethels Bridge, a member of the Gambino crime family [Jaynee LaVecchia's cousin?] gained influence in the affairs of two state unions, ran gambling rings in northern New Jersey and New York and collected a salary from a no-show construction job, prosecutors said yesterday."

"The man, ANDREW MEROLA, 40, was arrested during a vehicle stop in East Hanover, N.J., where he lives, the authorities said. He faces charges including being a leader of organized crime, racketeering and theft by extortion. Two union officials were also arrested this week, along with more than twenty other people who prosecutors said played roles in Mr. Merola's various criminal schemes."

The feds seem to have worked out a method of "sharing" information" -- "selective leaks" -- with some New Jersey prosecutors and law enforcement people, perhaps unofficially, while bypassing the Trenton Syndicate's players in the legal system as much as possible. I suggest that they avoid sharing information with the notoriously corrupt Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE) or with New Jersey's baby attorney general, Anne Milgram.

Spitzer may have been targeted by New Jersey mobsters because of his crusading prosecutions against mafia figures. The same gangsters use Garden State-based prostitution networks providing blackmail material, usually allowing the Jersey Boys to get out of their legal troubles. I am sure that some of the people around Corzine responsible for early attack ads against Mr. Christie are "connected." Many of the same shady customers seem to cluster around former New Jersey Attorney General and Supreme Court justice, James R. Zazzali.

On a day when I experienced hours of harassment, destruction and alteration of my written work -- harassment that is only made possible by the cooperation of the authorities in Trenton -- I think the questions whispered about both Mr. Zazzali (a.k.a. the "Zazz") and former Attorney General and Supreme Court "Justice" Peter G. Verniero (a.k.a. "Pete G.") deserve to be discussed somewhere other than in federal wiretaps. ("Jaynee LaVecchia and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" and "Maurice J. Gallipoli and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")

I am told that my essay concerning Mr. Gallipoli may have been ytranslated into Arabic. If this is true, then I am glad to spread the word about New Jersey's legal system and judiciary. I hope we can all get together soon to catch up on old times.

Mr. Verniero was one of the architects of N.J.'s disgusting racial profiling policy and was said to disapprove of minorities in the legal profession. Mr. Zazzali was reputedly linked with a number of labor union officials who have since had "difficulties with the law." The "Zazz" was also said to favor racial profiling. However, this is neither confirmed nor denied at this time. (Keep your eyes on any "errors" inserted in this essay.)

This arrest is only the beginning since such a massive criminal network, allegedly, could not operate in New Jersey and other states without the cooperation of government and other officials, probably in Trenton. This partnership between politicians and organized crime in Trenton certainly explains the state's thriving child-porn and -prostitution industries. The extent of the state judiciary's involvement in these lucrative enterprises cannot be measured precisely, but seems to be substantial.

In New Jersey, child-porn money probably buys judges and maybe Supreme Court justices. Friendly relations between former New Jersey justices and reputed underworld figures were discussed in courthouse cafeterias for years. (See "Law and Ethics in The Soprano State.")

"Wada-ya, kidding? Naaa ... " Dem Jersey guys, geez." (See "The Mob that Whacked New Jersey," in The Soprano State, p. 272 and chapter 5 of that book. I highly recommend Jimmy Breslin's The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight.)

How many federal Grand Juries are hearing matters pertaining to New Jersey "events" and "personalities"? Several -- allegedly. Besides the one or more concerned with Senator Menendez, of course, who claims to have "absented" himself from Hudson County politics, allowing the "barons" to do what they like. See Raymond Hernandez & David W. Chen, "In Immigration Debate, Menendez Sees an Opportunity," in The New York Times, June 25, 2007, at p. B1. (Menendez is very good at seeing opportunities and at "absenting" himself.) "Does Senator Menendez Have Mafia Friends?"

"The authorities said that Mr. Merola, working with associates, inserted himself into the financial affairs of two unions: Local 825 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, based in Springfield, which Mr. Merola belonged to, prosecutors said; and Local 1153 of the Laborers' International Union of North America, based in Newark."

Labor unions continue to make substantial cash contributions, allegedly, to the Democrats' "non-federal account." Interestingly, the Democrats claim to have no such account. Say hello to Mr. Prisco for me, Stuart. ("Stuart Rabner and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")

I think it is becoming clearer why $187 MILLION was spent in New Brunswick and no high school was built. Many of these alleged criminal organizations also have judges and state employees, at the Department of Labor, perhaps, on the payroll. Traditionally, in New Jersey, "nothing happened" was the only response to such criminality. Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow is brave (and unusual) in following through on these matters. Mr. Romankow seems like a good candidate for New Jersey Attorney General, or someone to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court, whatever his party affiliation.

Are rumors of forthcoming resignations from the N.J. Supreme Court accurate? Let us hope so. Time to "move on," Jaynee.

The same may be said for Monmouth Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin -- better than Romankow -- who (so far) appears honest and diligent. Other prosecutors and judges are doing an exceptionally good job under difficult circumstances in New Jersey. It may not be wise to name them. You know who you are. Several good prosecutors in Hudson and Essex are doing excellent work right now. I appreciate all the "help" sent my way and your good wishes.

"Working with a member of the rival Luchese family, [any relation to Kay Licausi?] Mr. Merola solicited a $20,000 bribe from a construction company that did not want to hire workers from Local 825, the authorities said. Another associate of Mr. Merola approved pay raises and was involved in other employment matters regarding workers in Local 1153, they said." (They?)

This would be a good time to delete a letter or remove one of the closing parentheses. Anne Milgram? Thanks for coming through, for me, in Jersey City. Keep up the good work.

"Mr. Merola, is (apparently) not Italian-American, having changed his name some time ago. I am sure that, among Merola's alleged associates there are Latinos and members of other ethnic groups in New Jersey. (See Al Pacino's great performance in "Scarface.") Those members of the Cuban-American community who are under the impression that all persons in our ethnic community are lawyers, doctors, dentists and accountants are in for a disappointment. New Jersey's organized crime and corrupt politics is well represented by Cubanazos. ("Senator Bob, the Babe, and the Big Bucks.")

Former N.J. Chief Justice James R. Zazzali specialized in labor law when he was in private practice, right? I wonder whether he had occasion to "encounter" any of these fine "gentlemen" or to represent these labor unions, or other "allied organizations," in the Labor sector of the economy?

When it comes to New Jersey's legal corruption, nothing surprises me. You don't get to the New Jersey judiciary by staying away from the state's corrupt politics. I litigated a case against an attorney who was in the process of being appointed to the bench -- and I beat him on an appeal of a motion to the Appellate Division, where I believe he now sits -- but no one questioned his competence or intellect. I wonder whether letters are taken out of his essays overnight by computer hackers using New Jersey government resources or "contacts." I doubt it.

Zazzali represented a mutual client who thought Zazzali's cross examination of a witness was incompetent and worthless. This client was less than satisfied with Zazzali's ten minutes of preparation right before the hearing began. The client asked if I could take over the matter mid-way through, but to my knowledge no OAE officials showed up at Zazzali's office the next day to question his performance or whether Zazzali was "hitting the sauce."

Perhaps "Chief Justice" Zazzali and Mr. Verniero like to go to Hooters with unindicted alleged racist, Lieutenant Andriani of the Hoboken Police Department. As for myself, I was dazzled by Mr. Zazzali's piercing intellect. Incidentally, I happen to think highly of Hooters, in every sense, but not of Zazzali, Verniero, or Andriani.

"Prosecutors said Mr. Merola and his lieutenants used a web site called Topbettors.com in their operations" -- I wonder why I have so many computer troubles? -- "but they did not detail exactly how the site was used. The site bills itself as an offshore facilitator of betting operations, providing 'an offshore call center and accounting services' for land-based sports wagering interests. A man who answered a phone number listed on the web site and who would identify himself only as 'Frank' [Zazzali?] said no one was available to answer immediately." ("$500 Million Internet Gambling Operation Disrupted in New Jersey.")

How about "Cheech"? Is Cheech down da shore with the bodies of dem guys they took care of last week? Both of those "guys" also answer the phone for the N.J. Bar Association. How strange?

"The gambling operations led to loan sharking, the authorities said, and Mr. Merola, using two enforcers, 'resorted to violence or threats of violence to collect his debts,' according to a statement released by prosecutors."

Allegedly, the preferred method used by organized crime in the Garden State is to arrange for the arrest of someone -- for a minor traffic offense like not wearing a seat belt, perhaps, or parking tickets, also ethics proceedings are probably "used" against victims, especially lawyers who don't play ball -- then to have that person assaulted or killed in jail. In the old days the boys could count on a tough judge to set high bail, like good old Judge Napolitano. How's life on Fox News, judge?

I appeared before Napolitano on a bail matter where I got my guy out on minimal bail despite the substantial charges that he was facing. Despite the comatose state of the prosecutor who failed to request a bail increase, Napolitano tried to jack up the Defendant's already posted bail, without good cause or alteration in the status of a Defendant who had clearly complied with conditions and appeared in court.

I explained that this was hardly an indication of "judicial neutrality or lack of bias." Napolitano had no authority to increase bail and knew that I would get him reversed if he did increase bail, so he took no action. I remember that Napolitano was upset for a week or so. New Jersey judges love to send people to prison, except for mafia guys. ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")

It is rumored that judges, cops, newspaper people (including some at the best periodicals) -- are all at the service of these organizations that also employ highly "ethical" N.J. attorneys, who are usually asked to serve on Ethics Committees before rising to a Superior Court judgeship, or higher. Fox News? (See "One of New Jersey's Highly Ethical Attorneys Has a Problem" and "New Jersey's Legal System is a Whore House.")

How you doing there, Jaynee? (See "Jay Romano and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" and "Deborah T. Poritz and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")

Hey, is Jay Romano still at The New York Times? I wonder whether Jay writes under a pseudonym, like Manohla Dargis? Naah ... What are ya gonna do?

"Don't forget to plan your New Jersey vacation!" Let's see what they try next.