Joseph Hayden

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Gov. Jon Corzine likes Joe Hayden, one of New Jersey's best criminal defense attorneys, for U.S. Attorney. Corzine also likes Sen. Frank Lautenberg's choice, Paul Fishman, and Attorney General Anne Milgram.

Gov. Jon Corzine is meeting with President-elect Barack Obama next week (along with several other area Governors) and could bring up his short list of three candidates for U.S. Attorney: the Governor likes Paul Fishman and Joseph Hayden, and Attorney General Anne Milgram.  And there are two names -- both former federal prosecutors -- sources say, that Corzine opposes to replace Republican Christopher Christie: Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow and Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin.   

It's possible that none of Corzine's three picks will get the job: Milgram would be opposed by some serious Democratic players, and Hayden has some pending legal matters -- he's the attorney for Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero and former State Sen. Joseph Coniglio, both under federal indictment and awaiting trial.  Fishman, who reportedly has the backing of U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, is an interesting pick for Corzine: he's representing labor leader Carla Katz, the Governor's former girlfriend, in a lawsuit about private emails between the two. 

Ted Wells

Following a recommendation by former Gov. Brendan Byrne that the incoming Obama administration consider criminal attorney Joe Hayden for the office of U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, one of Hayden’s best-known peers this week also endorsed Hayden.

Criminal attorney Ted Wells said he believes the Hoboken-based Hayden would be an excellent choice – the question at this stage is whether the veteran attorney would take the job.

“I think Joe would bring a stature to the office because for a long time he has been viewed as one of the top lawyers in the state,” said Wells. “He has served as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, everyone knows him and everyone respects him.”

Former Gov. Brendan T. Byrne said today that if Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.) wins the presidential election, he would like Obama to consider criminal defense attorney Joseph Hayden for U.S. Attorney in New Jersey.

“I think we’ve got to have a good us attorney, especially if Christie is going to be a candidate,” the former governor told PolitickerNJ.com, referring to current U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.

“Hayden’s got a nice personality, a sensational record and is well-respected,” said Byrne. “He’s also been very active in the Obama campaign. I want to suggest that they look at him.”

NEWARK - Charged with eight counts of corruption, Bergen County Democratic chairman Joseph Ferriero and Bergenfield attorney Dennis Oury made bail today on a $200,000 property bond ordered by federal Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo.

Indicted yesterday for their role in a grants scheme, Ferriero and Oury turned themselves over to the FBI today and appeared in Cox's courtroom around 2:30 p.m.

They stood with their attorneys in a pretrial appearance that laasted all of five minutes.

Gerald Krovatin of Newark is representing Oury, and Joseh Hayden of Roseland is representing Ferriero.

Each defendant said three words when Cox asked them if they understood the bail package agreement.

Joseph Hayden, the attorney representing Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero, said that the government’s charges against Ferriero “have no basis in law or fact,” taking a tone that indicated that Ferriero will fight the charges.

Instead, Hayden said, the company that both Ferriero and Oury held a stake in – Government Grants Consulting -- “provided a significant benefit to Bergenfield.”

Below is Hayden’s full statement on behalf of Ferriero:

These criminal charges against Joseph Ferriero have no basis in law or fact.  The Government in this case has unfairly transformed a valuable public service and made it into a criminal charge.

MINNEAPOLIS - Already the subject of an FBI probe into his party activities, Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero is now being investigated by prosecutors for allegedly assaulting a woman who was a guest at a barbecue at his house, according to the Star-Ledger.

The Ledger reports that the incident is alleged to have occurred on Labor Day at Ferriero's home in Old Tappan, according to the Ledger’s sources, "who requested anonymity because of an ongoing investigation by prosecutors."

Ferreiro's lawyer denies it happened.

"There is absolutely no truth to the allegation that Joseph Ferriero engaged in any inappropriate conduct towards a guest at a family barbecue over the Labor Day weekend at his home," attorney Joseph Hayden, told the Ledger. "This was a family event hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Ferriero and their children, which was attended by friends of all members of the family. The Ferriero's host this event for friends and family every year."

According to The Record, a Superior Court clerk in Bergen County described the allegation as a "sexual charge."

Bergen County dominates this week's PolitickerNJ.com Winners & Losers.  READ

Harold Hodes, a lobbyist for the Hackensack University Medical Center, has retained legal counsel for the probe of State Sen. Joe ConiglioLobbyist Harold Hodes, a top advisor to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in New Jersey and one of the state’s most powerful political insiders, has retained a prominent criminal defense attorney as part of the federal corruption probe of State Sen. Joseph Coniglio, according to several sources.

Public Strategies/Impact, Hodes’ firm, has represented Hackensack University Medical Center, which employed Coniglio as a plumbing consultant. The hospital received over $1 million in state grants while the Bergen County Democrat was on their payroll.

Hodes has not received a target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s office, according to people with knowledge of the Coniglio investigation, but is being represented by Justin Walder.  Walder’s partner, Joseph Hayden, said his firm does not comment on who their clients are.  Hodes did not return repeated phone calls to his office, home and cell phone over the last several weeks seeking comment.