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Norman schemes while B'klyn burns

June 30, 2003 - NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Based on the political behavior of Brooklyn's judges - and that of the ruling Democratic Party - one may think this is just another ordinary year in the borough. It is anything but.

The entire apparatus of how the Kings County Democratic Party makes judges is under the microscope as others in the press corps have joined this page's inquiry. Brooklyn District Attorney Joe Hynes is handing out subpoenas and hauling in witnesses as he scrutinizes jurists and powerbrokers in his judgeships-for-sale investigation. But through it all, the judges and the bosses persist in playing the same old games.

In the midst of the storm, Assemblyman Clarence Norman, Brooklyn's top Democrat, is proceeding to create the 2003 class of state Supreme Court justices as if nothing has happened. Eight justices will be elected to 14-year terms this fall. All to be handpicked by Norman after being okayed by his rigged screening committee.

Three of the spots belong to incumbents pursuing reelection. The five vacancies have lured 22 contenders, 20 of them Civil Court judges. That's striking since Brooklyn has only 31 Civil Court judges. Bottom line: loyalty to Norman will be what counts.

Take Civil Court Judge Arthur Schack. His wife, Dilia, is one of the 42 Democratic district leaders who comprise the foundation of Norman's strength. Another possible new Supreme is Civil Court Judge Rachel Amy Adams. As the Daily News' Michael Blood first reported, her seat was bought with a no-interest loan from former party boss and Norman mentor Howie Golden. She also has the distinction of having been law secretary to the recently indicted Justice Gerald Garson. By the way, her husband was Golden's top aide.

Most of the rest of the candidates, having run with party backing in the past, have strong ties to Norman. And being seasoned judges, they all know what to do to have a shot at the big time of Supreme Court: Be nice to Norman.

One crucial step is to support Norman's annual fund-raising dinner. It was held May 1. According to a seating list this page has obtained, the names of 18 of the Civil Court judges up for the Supreme Court appear on the roster. But they weren't the only sitting judges who paid the boss $300 a ticket and bought ads in the dinner journal. All three of the Supreme Court justices seeking reelection were there. So were most of the Supremes and Civils elected last fall. They were paying their respects and paying back the boss.

The list included 29 Brooklyn judges. These misguided jurists may think they were supporting the Democratic Party. Not true. With some 500 attendees, the dinner takes in about $150,000 before expenses. In a typical year, it's the party's biggest single money maker. But not this year. In 2003, the money didn't go the party. It went to a group called The Brooklyn Democrats, a PAC controlled by Norman. It's a trick he has often pulled in years past.

There's a world of difference between The Brooklyn Democrats and the Kings County Democratic Committee. The latter is the legally recognized party that controls the ballot line. The Brooklyn Democrats is run by Norman and his current bagman, William Boone, whom Hynes is investigating. More than one district leader has complained that their names were used to promote the dinner, yet the proceeds went entirely to Norman's PAC.

Norman has other sly moves. Example: In 2001, Civil Court Judge Howard Ruditzky wanted to go to the Supreme Court. Norman agreed. But since Ruditzky's 10-year term on the lower bench was up, the party wanted him to run again for that job. Then, after he won the primary for reelection, he would be promoted to Supreme, creating a vacancy on the Civil Court that the party could then fill without an election. The man preselected was Richard Goldberg, law partner to Steven Cohn, party secretary and mainstay in Norman's ruling clique.

Problem was Ruditzky lost the primary to a reformer - meaning Goldberg was out of luck. But Ruditzky still demanded to be moved to Supreme. He was. Now the machinations behind this strange move and the hefty campaign funds spent are being probed by DA Hynes.

This year, there could be two similar maneuvers involving Civil Court Judges Kathryn Smith and Lila Gold, who are up for reelection yet seek promotion to the Supreme Court. Goldberg again is reported to be a beneficiary should the gambit work. Even though this cynical manipulation of the voting process has gotten his gang into trouble before, Norman remains unfazed. And with the entire city and the DA watching, he shamelessly plans to try it again. He never learns.

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