O'Toole Assails Influence Charges

State Sen. Kevin O’Toole is fighting accusations he tried to use his influence to garner support for the judicial nomination of former state Attorney General Paula Dow, according to a story in Tuesday’s Verona-Cedar Grove Times.

O’Toole told the newspaper he is considering filing defamation charges after state Sens. Nia Gill, Richard Codey and Ron Rice signed a letter to state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner alleging the former Cedar Grove mayor tried to use his influence to gain support for Dow.

Dow, currently a Superior Court judge in Burlington County, withstood a bruising nomination battle when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie nominated her for an Essex County judgeship in December.

When the nomination faced state Senate opposition, Christie withdrew it and resubmitted a nomination for the Burlington County position.

On June 28, the state Senate Judiciary Committee approved Dow’s nomination to seek the seat.  The full Senate approved the nomination a few hours later.

The trio contends O’Toole allegedly asked Essex County Assignment Judge Patricia Costello to have two other judges persuade Gill into supporting Dow.

Although Gill and Rice have not publicly commented since the story broke July 9, Codey has spoken to both the Star-Ledger and the Associated Press, telling the newspaper, “It’s a very serious allegation and has to be looked into It’s unfortunate something like this did happen.”

In the Associated Press article, Codey said the judges were told their judicial careers would be over unless Gill was talked into supporting Dow.

O’Toole denied the charges, calling Codey a “partisan hack” and denying the “hurtful, untruthful accusations.” 

 As far as the alleged conversation with Costello, O'Toole told the Times he is in constant communication with the assignment judge and they have a "wonderful relationship."

O'Toole denies, however, he ever asserted his influence to pressure judges to support Dow's nomination.