New Jersey

Afternoon Briefs: Censure recommended for judge’s ‘knucklehead’ remarks; Kesha loses round in Dr. Luke suit

Censure recommended for judge’s remarks on racy photos The New Jersey Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct is recommending censure for a judge who commented on a “knucklehead” husband and the girlfriend who was asking the man’s wife for return of her suggestive photos. Judge Alberto Rivas told the…

Feb 7, 2020 4:40 PM CST

Judge should be ousted after asking woman whether she closed her legs to prevent rape, judicial panel says

A special panel is rejecting a New Jersey judge’s explanation for why he asked a woman whether she had closed her legs to stop a sexual assault.

Jan 29, 2020 1:21 PM CST

SCOTUS adds cases on wayward presidential electors, contraceptive coverage exemptions

The U.S. Supreme Court added two high-profile cases on Friday to its docket concerning faithless presidential electors and expanded exemptions to mandated contraceptive coverage.

Jan 17, 2020 4:17 PM CST

Judge limits 97-year-old lawyer’s involvement in murder case after courtroom outburst

On Wednesday, a New Jersey judge refused to remove a 97-year-old lawyer from a Bergenfield murder case following a courtroom outburst last Thursday.

Jan 16, 2020 12:19 PM CST

Crosstown traffic: SCOTUS considers ‘Bridgegate’ prosecutions

In 2013, three government officials schemed to shut down two of three access lanes from a New Jersey city into the toll plaza for the George Washington Bridge into New York City. The Supreme Court has taken up an appeal one of the officials, who was a deputy chief of staff to then-Gov. Chris Christie. Her lawyers argue that she was convicted essentially for having ulterior political motives.

Jan 9, 2020 1:18 PM CST

Judge admits telling suspect to treat women as if ‘holding a feather’ to show ‘you’re the man’ and in control

A New Jersey judge says he has “undertaken an education and enlightenment path” after giving controversial advice to a domestic violence suspect facing multiple charges.

Dec 4, 2019 12:04 PM CST

Country club seeks to hold waiter liable for allegedly spilling red wine on $30K handbag

A New Jersey country club sued for a red wine spill that allegedly damaged a $30,000 Hermès handbag is seeking to hold the waiter accountable.

Nov 12, 2019 12:45 PM CST

Lawyer disbarred for charging 88-year-old widow an ‘utterly excessive’ fee

The New Jersey Supreme Court has disbarred a lawyer for charging an elderly client about $120,000 in a case where an expert witness said he would have charged no more than $15,500.

Nov 4, 2019 10:20 AM CST

Prosecutors tossed from drug case after witness is used to record defense lawyer

A New Jersey appeals court has tossed prosecutors from a drug case because detectives wired a witness and sent him to record the criminal defense lawyer who had requested a pretrial interview.

Nov 1, 2019 11:33 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Lawyer accused of shaking down clients; Taco Bell sued over advertised price

Lawyer accused of shaking down Colombian clients through false promises A Texas lawyer who markets himself as the “DWI Dude” is on trial for allegedly shaking down three Colombian clients by promising them freedom in exchange for about $1.5 million in fees. The lawyer, 62-year-old Jamie Balagia, maintains that he…

Oct 21, 2019 4:11 PM CDT

Longtime municipal judge is charged with grabbing woman’s breasts at his law office

A municipal court judge in New Jersey has been charged with fourth-degree sexual contact for allegedly grabbing a woman’s breasts when she was at his law office.

Sep 16, 2019 4:43 PM CDT

Lawyer reprimanded for discriminatory statements about Chinese optometrist

A New Jersey lawyer was reprimanded Friday for demeaning and discriminatory statements about the Chinese culture in a letter to a medical malpractice defendant.

Sep 9, 2019 10:36 AM CDT

3rd Circuit says lawyer isn’t liable for alleged malpractice of husband who listed partnership on letterhead

A legal malpractice plaintiff can’t hold a lawyer liable for her husband’s legal work when the plaintiff didn’t rely on representations that the lawyers were practicing together, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. In a 2-1 nonprecedential opinion, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Philadelphia affirmed summary judgment…

Aug 23, 2019 12:54 PM CDT

Judge told woman her nude photos should be sent only to Hugh Hefner, ethics complaint says

A New Jersey judge has issued an apology for courtroom remarks about a “knucklehead” husband, his girlfriend’s suggestive photos and his wife’s failure to file for divorce. Judge Alberto Rivas of Middlesex County said in a statement released with ethics charges against him that he felt the justice system was…

Aug 19, 2019 11:55 AM CDT

Former paralegal at US attorney’s office accused of using prosecutor info to expose informants

A paralegal in the U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey has been indicted for allegedly using government information to identify informants and help her gang member son. Tawanna Hilliard of Brooklyn pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that include witness tampering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy, NJ.com reports. She was…

Aug 16, 2019 2:29 PM CDT