Let God sort 'em out!
"N.J. limits on sex offenders rejected" by Jeffrey Gold, Associated Press | July 16, 2008
NEWARK - New Jersey towns cannot ban sex offenders from living near schools, parks, or other places where children gather, a state appeals court ruled yesterday.
The three-judge panel found that New Jersey's Megan's Law was "pervasive and comprehensive" and should be the only law governing how sex offenders are treated. The ruling upheld findings by judges who invalidated ordinances in Cherry Hill and Galloway townships.
Strange choice of words, no?
Supporters of those ordinances hoped the towns would appeal. Richard D. Pompelio, a lawyer for the New Jersey Crime Victims' Law Center, filed a brief endorsing the town's laws.
He questioned how Megan's Law, which requires sex offenders to register with the state, was preempted because it does not impose residency restrictions. The towns banned adults convicted of sex offenses against a child from living within 2,500 feet of any school, park, playground, church, or other place "where children might congregate."
Similar laws are in place in many states and dozens of New Jersey towns.
Appellate Judge Joseph F. Lisa, writing for the court, said that the Cherry Hill and Galloway ordinances "interfere with and frustrate the purposes and operation of the statewide scheme."
The ruling was applauded by the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented one of the offenders.
Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the state chapter:"Megan's Law is already accepted as constitutional and as the state's comprehensive approach to sex offenders. The residency requirements do not contribute to rehabilitation and may in fact undermine it."
--MORE--"
Think this guy will make the list?
"Marzilli victimized us, 2 more allege" by Andrea Estes, Globe Staff | July 16, 2008
Two more women came forward yesterday alleging they were victimized by state Senator J. James Marzilli Jr., including a minister who says the state senator made lewd comments and rubbed up against her at a 2006 Deval Patrick political rally attended by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
The second woman, an unmarried mother of two, alleged that while spending the night in Marzilli's guest room Sept. 4, 2007, while his wife was away, she woke up with Marzilli on top of her. The woman worked for WAND, a nonprofit organization headed by Marzilli's wife, Susan Shaer, who fired her within days after another of Marzilli's alleged victims told Arlington police he groped her in April 2008.
The latest allegations were contained in a civil-rights lawsuit against Marzilli filed by attorney Wendy Murphy yesterday in Middlesex Superior Court. In the suit, Murphy asked for a court order barring Marzilli from "assaulting, threatening, intimidating, coercing, following, or harassing" his alleged victims or any other women. A hearing on the request was scheduled for July 31.
Marzilli remains in his Senate seat, but has said he will not seek reelection this year. Marzilli's lawyer, Terrence Kennedy, said yesterday that he had not yet received the complaint, and he would not comment on the new allegations.
Even though Marzilli is already facing criminal charges that he harassed and made sexual comments to four women in Lowell, Murphy said she is seeking a civil rights injunction because violating such an order carries a harsh penalty, up to 10 years in prison.
Murphy called the request:
"A novel legal proceeding. It's rarely done, but it can be done. This is the kind of case where you want to restrain the guy and hang a heavy, Damocles sword over him, so he does stop."
Shaer, executive director of Women's Action for New Directions in Arlington, said she did not know her former employee was making accusations against her husband until questioned yesterday by the Globe. The complaint suggests that when Shaer's employee went to police to report her allegations, she was fired in retaliation.
Shaer said:
"Any implication that [her] termination was connected in any way with anything other than her job performance is simply untrue. This is the first time I have ever heard of any accusation involving [her]. I'm shocked and saddened she would imply I would be anything other than professional about her job situation."
Earlier this week, Senate President Therese Murray rejected a request from Republican Senator Robert Hedlund, Republican of Weymouth, to strip Marzilli of his chairmanship of the Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee.
--MORE--"WTF?!
We have committees for the most innocuous shit, don't we?
All on the TAXPAYER'S DIME!!!!
Also see: The Bi-Polar Pervert
