CARDINALE: PUBLIC DESERVES CLEAR ANSWER FROM ADLER ON PAROLE BOARD APPOINTEE

Senator Gerald Cardinale, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said this after reading comments attributed to state Senator John Adler, chairman of the committee, in the Asbury Park Press:

"Republicans on the Judiciary Committee immediately joined to call for the removal of Charles Jones from the Parole Board after Jones sent a letter saying that the corruption conviction of former Newark Mayor Sharpe James was politically motivated.

"The letter demonstrated startling contempt for the judicial process and the members of public who served on a jury that dedicated long hours to considering the facts in the James case. The letter was indisputable evidence that Jones can not be objective in his decisions about which convicted criminals can safely be freed from prison and put on parole. It's also now clear that Jones's resume does not include the necessary experience to warrant the trust put in him when he was appointed to the parole board by then Governor Richard Codey.

"After a long silence on the issue, Senator Adler was quoted as saying that he can do nothing about removing Jones, and that he will not call committee hearings on the Jones matter despite Republican requests.

"Respectfully, there is plenty that Senator Adler can do. First, he can schedule hearings on Jones's qualifications as soon as the Legislature comes back into session to help bring pressure for Jones's resignation.

"But most importantly of all, he can make himself crystal clear that he stands on the side of fairness and justice by joining the call for Jones's resignation or removal from the board by Governor Corzine."

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