FCLU Demands Resignation of Sen Scutari

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Greg T. Roberts

Phone: 1-800-985-6388

Email: groberts@fclu.org

FCLU DEMANDS RESIGNATION OF NJ SENATOR SCUTARI

NJ Senate Chairman Scutari Bars Victims From Testifying Against Judicial Nominee Hubner

TRENTON, NJ, October 30, 2018 – The Families Civil Liberties Union, known as the FCLU, announced today that it is demanding the resignation of New Jersey Senator and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Nicholas P. Scutari (D), because he issued a directive to “not take any oral testimony” at the meeting held on October 29, 2018 in which the Senate Judiciary considered the gubernatorial nomination of three Superior Court Judges. The FCLU has also announced that it has obtained a copy of a lawsuit filed in Mercer County Superior Court by one of it’s members who is a victim of Michael E. Hubner, and such lawsuit is against Senator Scutari for violating New Jersey Senate Rules that require the public to be afforded an opportunity to be heard and for violations of failing to accommodate a request pursuant to the American Disabilities Act.

Greg Roberts, President of the FCLU, said, “It is unconscionable in today’s era for a public servant who is entrusted with the confidence of the people to block victims of judicial nominees from testifying publicly against such nominees. In my presence, Senator Scutari has done this before; he blocked a room full of victims from testifying against Philip J. Maenza on February 6, 2017 which created an uproar at the time. Now, Chairman Scutari issued a directive blocking testimony that discouraged victims from appearing and therefore further victimized these citizens who had a right to be heard”.

At the onset of the hearing, Senator Gerald Cardinale (R) placed on the record his objection to the procedures by Senator Scutari with respect to the nomination of Michael E. Hubner due to the volume of material submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee objecting to Judge Hubner’s re-nomination. Senator Nia Gil (D) expressed comments in favor of permitting more time to review the submissions. Ultimately, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move the nomination of Michael E. Hubner to the full Senate for approval, which, along with the other nominees, were confirmed hours later by the full New Jersey Senate.

Mr. Tobia Ippolito, a victim of Judge Hubner, said, “I have been victimized again by Senator Scutari. If I was permitted my right to be heard, I would have proven the false statements Judge Hubner made under oath at the meeting that day. I have proven, by a published opinion issued by the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division vacating Judge Hubner’s order, that he deprived me of my civil rights and that he acted ‘Contrary to law’. Judge Hubner is not fit to be on the bench as he does not understand due process or family law- I have not seen my children in over six and half years due to his incompetence”.

The Families Civil Liberties Union is a professional, politically neutral, national activist organization headquartered in New York City. We fight for fairness in the family court system.

Our mission is the education and promotion of equalized gender rights, fair and standardized laws and practices nationally in relation to Family and Domestic Relations Law. We believe no child should be without either parent, except in rare cases of abuse, and the laws need to reflect that belief. We believe matrimonial attorneys and the judicial system enforcing Family and Domestic Relations Law should be held accountable to providing a system that is fair, unbiased and benefits the family as a whole. See fclu.org.

Gregory T. Roberts, President

FCLU USA