June 8, 2009 - 9:21am

Inside Edge

Lautenberg and Menendez backing different horses in race for U.S. Marshal, U.S. Trustee

By Wally Edge

New Jersey's two Democratic U.S. Senators have not yet come to an agreement on the next U.S. Marsha. Sources say that Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park) prefers Lourdes Timberman Correa, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Marshal's office. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken) is said to prefer Bergen County Freeholder Tomas Padilla, a Hackensack police captain. Either would become the first Hispanic federal marshal.

Lautenberg and Menendez are also recommending different people for U.S. Trustee, who supervises the administration of all bankruptcy cases in Region 3 (New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania) - a post of extraordinary importance for law firms with bankruptcy practice groups. Sources also say that Lautenberg backs Livingston-based bankruptcy law expert Stacey Meisel, who has served as a Bankruptcy Panel Trustee and was an early Obama supporter, Menendez is supporting Patricia Staiano, who held the post during the Clinton administration. She is a partner at Hellring Lindeman Goldstein & Siegal.

The U.S. Trustee is picked directly by the Justice Department - Attorney General Eric Holder and presumably Paul Fishman upon his likely confirmation as U.S. Attorney. Lautenberg and Menendez have no direct consent over the post.

The current U.S. Marshal is James Plousis, a Republican who served as Cape May County Sheriff before his appointment by George W. Bush in 2002.

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.

Related topics: Frank Lautenberg, Lourdes Timberman Correa, Robert Menendez, Tomas Padilla, Stacey Meisel, Patricia Staiano, Hellring Lindeman Goldstein & Siegal, Eric Holder, Paul Fishman James Plousis

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