Judge’s $5M suit vs. Dems
A BROOKLYN Supreme Court judge has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the Brooklyn Democratic Party after she wasn’®t approved for reelection by a screening committee.
Ravi Batra, a lawyer representing Justice Laura Jacobson (photo), filed the bombshell suit Friday against the Kings County Democratic Committee alleging that Jacobson’s “refusal to judicially act bending and bowing to the Brooklyn political machine” led to her losing the party’s backing.
Judges must be approved by a screening committee in order to be placed on the Democratic ballot come November.
The suit claims that members of the committee, and its chairman Martin Edelman, damaged Jacobson’s reputation by leaking confidential information about the screening process to the fact-challenged New York Post.
The county Dems “violated their own rules concerning committee participation and confidentiality and deprived the plaintiff of equal protection and due process so as to vindictively harm the plaintiff personally and professionally,” according to the suit.
The suit claims Jacobson, who has 25 years of experience on the bench and is seeking reelection for a 14-year term, is being punished for rulings against lawyers affiliated with the Brooklyn Dems.
It also alleges that the screening board has been stacked by Frank Seddio, the chairman of the Kings County Democratic County Committee, even though it is meant to be independent.
“Most members of this highly respected panel are chosen by various bar associations and this committee worked long hours and with great gravity before coming to its conclusion,” said Brooklyn Democratic County Committee spokesman George Arzt, who is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
“This was only the second time in 14 years that a sitting judge was not recommended,” Arzt added. “Other than that we are not going to comment on pending litigation.”
Edelman told the Daily News he had not yet seen the suit Saturday, but denied any wrongdoing.
“I vehemently deny any allegations that I leaked any information to the press,” Edelman said.
He said the judicial committee “deliberated many hours and thoroughly investigated” Jacobson, before determining that she should not be recommended for another term.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Batra has made wild unsubstantiated allegations which will be vigorously contested and fought since they are completely untrue,” Edelman added.