3 NJ Senators Ask Court for Investigation of 1

Three Democratic state senators have asked New Jersey's top judge to investigate a Republican senator for allegedly trying to pressure judges to lobby a lawmaker.

State Sen. Richard Codey says Republican state Sen. Kevin O'Toole asked Essex County Assignment Judge Patricia Costello to approach two other judges in the county who were up for re-nomination. Codey says they were told their judicial careers would be over unless they persuaded Sen. Nia Gill to support the Essex County judicial nomination of former Attorney General Paula Dow.

O'Toole, a Republican from Cedar Grove, did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Monday. A legislative aide said he was with legal clients. But The Star-Ledger of Newark, which first reported the allegations, said he denied them when reached by the paper.

Codey and Sens. Ronald Rice and Nia Gill, all Democrats representing Essex County, signed the letter last month to state Supreme Court Justice Stuart Rabner.

But Codey says it was Gill who heard the allegations from people involved.

Gill declined an interview request Monday, instead offering a one-sentence comment through a spokeswoman: "We are going to let the chief justice handle the matter," she said.

Gill had been blocking Dow's nomination as part of a standoff with Gov. Chris Christie over nominations.

Codey said that O'Toole approached Judge Costello in May with the request to pressure two subordinates. Costello's office referred all calls to state judiciary spokeswoman Winnie Comfort, who would only confirm that Rabner had received the letter.

Codey said that the senators contacted Rabner because they believe that O'Toole's alleged action would violate rules of professional conduct for lawyers.

If the allegations are true, the threats were not followed through.

Gill never agreed to support Dow's nomination in Essex County. In late May, Christie withdrew his nomination of Dow to the bench in Essex County and instead nominated her to a judgeship in Burlington County. He also re-nominated the Essex County judges whom the senators said had been pressured.

Christie's office also did not immediately return a message on Monday, but a spokesman told The Star-Ledger the allegations were not credible.

"From where we sit, this makes no sense at all," Michael Drewniak said.