Joseph Hayden

Jurors are expected to begin deliberations on Monday in the federal corruption trial of former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero.  The defense rested its case today, following Ferriero's own testimony.

From The Record's blog on the trial:

A PolitickerNJ.com cartoon by Rob Tornoe, after then-U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie announced the indictment of Joseph Ferriero

After a few days off, jurors in the federal corruption trial of former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero are expected to return this morning.  The Record reported yesterday that U.S. District Court Judge Stanley Chesler found conspiracy and fraud charges to be proper, but said that the indictment could have been more carefully prepared.  Ferriero's lawyer made a Rule 29 motion with the hope that Chesler will dismiss the charges. Chesler withheld judgment on that motion.

The federal corruption trial of former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero is scheduled to begin today in Newark.  Jurors were picked last month.  But there is speculation that the one-powerful party leader might seek a deal with prosecutors now that his co-defendant, Dennis Oury, has pleaded guilty.  Neither side will say if Oury, the former counsel to the Bergen County Democratic Organization and allegedly Ferriero's partner in a grants-writing business, will testify.  Ferriero's lawyer, Joseph Hayden, is one of the best white collar criminal defense lawyers in the state; Hayden gets that the U.S. Attorney's office has an undefeated record in political corruption prosecutions.  The sense among mere mortals is that if Oury - a man who must definitely knows stuff - testifies against Ferriero, the chances of a conviction go up.  So it's decision day for Ferriero, if in fact a deal is on the table.

The federal corruption trial of former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero, above, is scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero has no plans to follow his co-defendant’s lead and plead guilty to corruption charges, according to his attorney, Joseph Hayden.

“Joe Ferriero asked for a speedy trial and wants to go forward,” said Hayden.

Hayden would not say whether the Oury indictment would change anything about the way he will proceed in defending Ferriero.

“I decline to speculate as to how it will affect the dynamics of the trial, and I’ll probably address it in my opening statement,” he said.

Ferriero’s trial is set to begin on Thursday.  He is charged with concealing an interest in a grant writing firm and using his political clout to steer government grants to the firm’s clients.   

Jury selection in the federal corruption trial of former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero and onetime BCDO counsel Dennis Oury is expected to begin today.  The trial is scheduled to start on October 1 - a month before the general election - and some insiders say it will have an impact on the fall Democratic campaign.  Ferriero and Oury are accused of making money off a grant writing company that marketed services to local governments where the two top Democrats wielded considerable influence. 

Former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero’s defense attorney filed a motion in federal court today to dismiss the indictment against him.  

Joseph Hayden, who represents Ferriero, said that they’re seeking to dismiss the case based on an “unprecedented expansion of the mail fraud statute.”

Ferriero was indicted in September along with Dennis Oury, the former counsel of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, on eight corruption counts, seven of which were for mail fraud.  He allegedly used his position to steer business to a grants writing firm he and Oury held a stake in, along with Leonard Kaiser, a third partner who was not indicted.  

No hearing date has been set.

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg is trying to help Paul Fishman become the next U.S. Attorney from New Jersey.

Paul Fishman was fairy close to becoming New Jersey's U.S. Attorney in 1999, and as Democrats prepare for their first opportunity to fill the post since then, there is increasing speculation that 2009 may be his year. 

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg pushed hard for Fishman to get the U.S. Attorney post when Faith Hochberg was nominated to a federal judgeship in 1999.  But Fishman got in the middle of a rather extraordinary public feud between Lautenberg and U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli.  The Clinton administration sided with Torricelli, and when Hochberg resigned to take her seat on the bench (after a lengthy delay in the confirmation process), Attorney General Janet Reno elevated Torricelli's preferred choice, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Cleary, as New Jersey's interim federal prosecutor.  Cleary served until George W. Bush's nominee, Christopher Christie, took office in January 2002.

PolitickerNJ.com reported last October that Fishman would be Lautenberg's top choice if Barack Obama won the presidency.  With other potential contenders asking not to be considered, including attorney Joseph Hayden and Attorney General Anne Milgram, Fishman has moved to the top of the list in a campaign that essentially needs just two votes: Lautenberg and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez. 

Getty Images Photo

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 who is 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.”