Codey bill curbing prosecutors' political ambitions heads to judiciary committee
Senate President Richard Codey (D-West Orange) builds up Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy at Healy's campaign kick-off

Codey bill curbing prosecutors' political ambitions heads to judiciary committee

By Max Pizarro | May 4th, 2009 - 4:47pm
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Senate Judiciary Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) said he intends to post Senate President Richard Codey’s (D-Roseland) bill that would bar the state attorney general, first assistant attorney general and county prosecutors from running for elected office for two years after leaving their respective positions. 

But he would also like to look into expanding the legislation to include federal prosecutors.

“I would support this measure and post it for a hearing but I also want to get an opinion on whether we can apply this to U.S. Attorneys and therefore include all those who can prosecute,” Sarlo told PolitickerNJ.com

He would not comment when asked if the tenure of former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie – who declared his Republican candidacy for governor several weeks after leaving his federal office - prompted his curiosity about amending and augmenting Codey’s bill.

Codey’s provision would not apply to races already underway, he said. It would go into effect 180 days after enactment, and would bar the aforementioned officials from holding elective office or holding a position within any political party or club while they are employed as a prosecutor or attorney general. 

“This is something I’ve felt strongly about for many years.  Seeing that we were able to get it done with the Comptroller, who holds similar powers, I think it’s time we do the same for our other top investigators,” Codey said.  “When you have somebody who wields the power to both investigate and bring charges against another person, you want to be confident that their motives are altruistic.

This is a much needed step to ensure the integrity of our justice system,” Codey added. “It’s good public policy to know that those in charge of criminal investigations aren’t pursuing targets that will enhance their imminent political goals.”       

At least two Republican members of the Judiciary Committee parted company from each other on Codey’s bill, although they both said they had not come to a final opinion on the matter.

“I have always favored post employment restrictions, they eliminate a lot of contradictions,” said state Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Demarest). 

He didn’t think the bill should be changed to apply to U.S. Attorneys.

“Federal employees are different from state employees,” said Cardinale, arguing that they do not serve under the auspices of the governor's office and therefore should not be held to the same strictures governing attorney generals, for example. 

“I introduced a whole series of post employment restrictions limiting state employees from going to work for a casino for a period of time, and I also put in a bill that would prevent state banking examiners from working for banks for a couple of years,” added the veteran GOP senator. “There should be a cooling off period.”

State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middletown), who serves as chairman of the Chris Christie gubernatorial campaign, said he does not favor the legislation from what he has seen to this point.

“Senator Codey today reiterated to me that this isn’t directed to Chris and that he admires the job Chris did,” Kyrillos said. “I take Sen. Codey at his word. It is nonetheless a bill that some may have some fun with in an election season that includes a very tough former prosecutor. I don’t support the concept.  We live in a democracy, and what should be demanded of every person is that when they assume their oaths of office, they make their decisions based on the merits of each case and in the interests of the people.”

Sounds like more

BS legislation that is going to cost us in court challenges which we will lose.

Thank you

A great idea. People who have the power of the state to investigate and prosecute citizens should not be running for political office.
They should be above and beyond politics. A cooling off period is important. Great work Dick and Paul.
This should be the case at all levels of government and should include judges.

How About. . .

How about eliminating dual-officholding for everyone, including current double-dippers, first?

Than, and only then, should you even think about keeping a former attorney general from running for town council in small towns in NJ.

"We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work!"
- FDR's Treasure Secretary, Henry Morgenthau, in 1939, on 8 years of New Deal spending as an attempt to end the Great Depression.

Here are more ideas for Dick Codey.

1) Ban legislators from steering $$$ to their employers.
2) Require legislators who are insurance brokers to disclose all commissions they receive or received that are related to health insurance brokered where one party is a public agency.
3) Establish a rule that an indicted senator can't serve on committees or vote on judicial and prosecutorial appointments.

Nahhhhhh. That would make too much sense.

More useless legislation

JimPemberton Who would ever vote for the last four AG who occupied the office? Peter Harvey who was complicit with McGreevy, Zulima Farber who was forced to resign, Stu Rabner who didn't show for work for almost a year or Ann Milgram who has yet to surface from under Corzine's desk.
How about some real legislation like term limits,I&R, ethics or property tax reform. Too constrictive for the 'Ole Boys Club'?
Codey's fingerprints have been on the state's finances for over 30 years. If you're not part of the solution than you're part of the problem.

More ethics from Codey

“It’s good public policy to know that those in charge of criminal investigations aren’t pursuing targets that will enhance their imminent political goals.”

Thanks Codey for taking care of this big problem. G*d forbid anyone should succeed politically from actually cleaning up the state. Good job.

Whenever you're done targeting prosecutors WHO HAVEN'T BEEN THE PROBLEM IN THIS STATE, maybe you can help find out who keeps appointing crooks and thieves to the Senate budget committee so they can steal us blind. Ever thought of that?

And what's all this I keep hearing about insurance contracts? Work on that one too, wouldja?

hey ImWithStupid ...

Can we also add a clause to require all Lawyers Legislators and their firms to disclose all contracts and payments they receive from public entities and taxpayers?

What are YOU hiding?

So Dick, what are you hiding? This is just another legislative scam to keep prosecutors from going after the corrupt politicians who need going after. I fail to see why a citizen should be banned from running for office just because he or she did their job well.
But, wait, I forgot, this is New Jersey. Where insanity and illogic reign.

Take Out Possible Winners?

This is great, so a prosecutor who might be making a name for themselves by putting you elected scum away can run for office because they might win - nothing like protecting the thiefdom.

Exclude All But Party Hacks, Worthless In Any Other Profession

They'd better pass some more legislation to exclude not only Prosecutors who root out corruption, but also any Mayors, Administrators and School Superintendents who manage to provide quality services while somehow managing to hold down costs and taxes. Who wants them in State government?

How About Expanding!

This is so obviously targeted, as to be laughable. How about expanding the ban, like other posters have suggested. Make it illegal for legislators & former legislators who've left office within the previous 2 years, from becoming paid consultants or lobbyists. Ban lobbyists & former lobbyists from running for office, in any jurisdiction where there would be even an appearance of a conflict of interest. And stop grandfathering multiple office-holders; pick the one you want, and resign from the others!

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