Anne Milgram

ROBERTS TO SUBMIT BRIEF SUPPORTING DAVY, MILGRAM
AGAINST SUPERINTENDENTS' LAWSUIT

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. today announced his intention to file a "friend of the court" legal brief to help defend from federal court challenge new state education rules designed to reduce administrative overhead and wasteful spending in schools.

A few days before Superior Court Judge Patricia Costello removed Dana Rone from public office, Newark Mayor Cory Booker approached Attorney General Anne Milgram to discuss the Central Ward Councilwoman’s situation.  Sources say that Milgram told him she could not discuss it with him – effectively shutting him down on the spot.  Booker also looked to Gov. Jon Corzine for assistance, but was told there was nothing he could do to help.

What do 42 state attorneys general, U.S. Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) and New Jersey's entire congressional delegation have in common?

Apparently, they all disagree with state Attorney General Anne Milgram on the Free Flow of Information Act, S. 2035, which would bring federal journalist "shield" law protections up to date with that of 49 other states plus the District of Columbia.

This week's Winners & Losers: Click Here

Attorney General Anne Milgram was ticketed for driving 19 mph above the speed limit on Route 1 South on Friday, according to a published report. Milgram was "clocked at 69 mph in a 50 mph zone." She'll pay a $176 fine and will receive four points on her license. Milgram's office says she'll plead guilty.

U.S. Attorney Chris Christie: Politicker file photo 

NEWARK - U.S. Attorney Chris Christie rejoiced following the federal sentencing of former Newark Mayor Sharpe James today, but also acknowledged that a U.S. District Judge’s decision fell far short of what Christie and his prosecution team had sought.

He strove to focus on the positive.

"In seven weeks, Sharpe James will report to federal prison for one reason and one reason only: he is a criminal," Christie told reporters. "He is a federal felon."

Then he turned to U.S. District Judge William Martini’s imposition of a 27-month sentence on James instead of federal prosecutors’ suggestions of a 15-20 year penalty.

Attorney General Anne Milgram has spent a tremendous number of hours working on issues related to child pornography, and her office has arrested dozens of people for possessing pornographic materials on their computers already this year.   Earlier this week, Milgram called on Internet Service Providers to block access to child pornography.  Because this is one of her signature issues as New Jersey’s top law enforcement official, Milgram won’t be in a position to go easy on Neil Cohen, an Assemblyman who reportedly had child pornography on his office computer.  In the past, the Attorney General has pushed for jail terms for people who did what Cohen is accused of doing.

Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow has asked a Superior Court Judge to terminate Dana Rone’s service as a Newark City Councilwoman following her conviction on a disorderly persons charge.  Rone has a Zulima Farber problem – she intervened on behalf of her nephew during a 2006 traffic stop.  There is some talk that the idea of removing Rone from office didn’t come from Dow, but instead from Mayor Cory Booker – once a close Rone ally (he endorsed her for his old Central Ward seat when he first ran for Mayor in 2002) and now a fierce rival.  One version of the chain of events, according to a front office source, suggests that Booker sought Rone’s removal by going through the offices of Gov.  Jon Corzine and the state Attorney General, Anne Milgram.

State Criminal Justice Division Director Gregory M. Paw will resign from his post on June 20th to take a job with at the law firm Pepper Hamilton LLP.

Paw, who became director in February, 2006, sent a letter on Friday to Attorney General Anne Milgram announcing his impending resignation.

“It has been my honor and pleasure to serve the people of New Jersey as the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice…” wrote Paw. “The Division has undergone tremendous improvement in our term, and I am very proud of our accomplishments.”