New attorney general won't appeal dismissal of Norcorss charges
By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Though New Jersey's new attorney general seems poised to follow her predecessor's footsteps when it comes to legal actions against the Trump administration, she's charting a different course on matters closer to home.
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Acting attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that the sate will not appeal the decision to dismiss the racketeering indictment former Attorney General Matt Platkin had brought against South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcoss.
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Platkin charged Norcross and five others in June 2024, but a judge in Mercer County dismissed the charges in February 2025. A state appellate court upheld the dismissal last month. [01/2026] the deadline to appeal that decision to the state Supreme court is approaching.
..... The 13-count indictment alleged that for more than a decade, Norcorss and his associates used their power and influence on government officials to craft legislation with the help of Camden officials.
..... His co-defendants were his brother Philip Norcross, as well as Norcross' attorney William Tambussi, former Camden Mayor Dana Redd, Norcross' business partner Sindy Brown and real estate developer John O'Donnell.
..... When dismissing the charges last year, Judge Peter Warshaw said he agreed with the attorney arguing on behalf other defendants, who said it is "a fight about where the line is between legal and illegal cutout," and usually "we have a fight about what happens."
..... "The arguments made by the defense are properly raised and procedurally appropriate in this case and the court is convinced of the correctness of the defense position," he said. "the issue of the facial validity of an indictment presents infrequently."
..... Warshaw said in the dismissal that the defendants had correctly asserted that "when the allegation in an indictment do not support the charges, the indictment is palpably defective and subject to dismissal."