Court – Accused synagogue bomber’s trial could be moved

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The trial of a northern New Jersey man charged with firebombing synagogues in Bergen County could be moved.

New Jersey's Supreme Court ruled that Aakash Dalal's trial should either be moved out of the county or have a judge from another county brought in.

Dalal and Anthony Graziano, both of Lodi, were arrested for the synagogue attacks in 2012 and have pleaded not guilty to aggravated arson, conspiracy and bias intimidation charges. Each faces life in prison if convicted.

Acting on a tip from a jailhouse informant, authorities charged Dalal in 2013 with conspiracy to murder an assistant prosecutor, conspiracy to possess a firearm and terroristic threats. The presiding judge in the case and the judge who ruled on Dalal's bail were allegedly listed in notes found in Dalal's jail cell under the heading, "enemies." Neither judge currently sits in Bergen County, according to court documents.

Dalal had filed for a change of venue claiming he couldn't get a fair trial in Bergen County because of those charges.

A judge denied Dalal's motion but an appeals court reversed, writing that the appearance of fairness would be compromised if the trial were held in Bergen County.

The Supreme Court's unanimous ruling released Wednesday upheld the appellate court's decision. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner wrote that, while defendants shouldn't be allowed to manipulate the judicial system, "we believe that a reasonable, fully informed observer could have doubts about a Bergen County judge's impartiality."

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