Vote To Confirm Bergen Counsel As Federal Judge Delayed

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- A Congressional vote last week to approve the nomination of Bergen County Counsel Julien X. Neals to the federal bench was delayed because the committee wants to review information from the Department of Justice, Northjersey.com reported.

Congressional Democrats hope the nomination of Bergen County Counsel Julien X. Neals to the federal bench is approved before the end of the year.
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Mary K. Miraglia

11/05/2015 5:30 a.m.

Brian Martinotti of Cliffside Park has already been approved by the committee unanimously. Martinotti, a Bergen County civil court judge, is the second nominee approved; defense attorney John Michael Vazquez was approved by the House committee in September and is waiting for Senate action, the story said.

The appointments are in response to an emergency declared in July by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Four judges retired or became part time, followed by the death of 75-year old Judge Joseph E. Irenas Oct. 16, leaving five vacancies, according to Northjersey.com.

Neals was questioned Sept. 30 for less than 10 minutes, with no objections. He was due to be confirmed last Thursday when the committee learned of an update from the Dept. of Justice, with “information concerning ongoing litigation” that Neals is involved in. Committee chairman Charles Grassley, Iowa Senator (R), told members he had received the information the night before and staff had not had time to review it, according to Northjersey.com.

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