Patricia Costello

Superior Court Judge Patricia J. Costello removed Dana Rone from her seat on the Newark City Council earlier this month for abusing her office when she interceded in a 2006 traffic stop involving her nephew. PolitickerNJ.com editorial cartoonist Rob Tornoe has an interesting take on the matter: that New Jersey operates under a culture where the powerful and politically connected use their influence to get special treatment every day.

Whether its premium seats for concerts, special license plates and badges for judges and elected officials that send a not-too-subtle don’t-mess-with-me signal to state troopers and local police officers, or even the get out of jail free cards the PBA provides to legislators and political leaders in quantity to give away to friends (maybe even contributors), New Jersey politicos actively seek special treatment on a daily basis. So maybe Tornoe is right when he opines that there is some hypocrisy to the system, although his characterization is entirely generic – there is no confirmation that Costello or her family drives a car with judicial license plates.

A few days before Superior Court Judge Patricia Costello removed Dana Rone from public office, Newark Mayor Cory Booker approached Attorney General Anne Milgram to discuss the Central Ward Councilwoman’s situation.  Sources say that Milgram told him she could not discuss it with him – effectively shutting him down on the spot.  Booker also looked to Gov. Jon Corzine for assistance, but was told there was nothing he could do to help.

NEWARK - An incident caught on police camera a year and a half ago proved the downfall of Central Ward Councilwoman Dana Rone, as Essex County Judge Patricia Costello on Tuesday morning decided that Rone would have to give up her office as a councilwoman.

"The state's request for a waiver of forfeiture is denied," said Costello, in response to an 11th hour letter sent to the judge by Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow, who reversed an earlier recommendation of forfeiture.

"I find that whether an individual is fit to serve public office is not sufficient reason to waive forfeiture," the judge said to one of the arguments offered by Rone’s lawyer, Raymond Hamlin.

Costello ruled that it is "abundantly clear" that on Dec. 20, 2006, Rone used her office to obstruct justice, and contributed to heightening emotions - not diffusing them - at a Rutgers University police traffic stop of her nephew.