Lawyers for jailed ex-N.J. lawmaker argue complex appeal

Lawyers for imprisoned former New Jersey State Sen. Wayne Bryant, once one of the most powerful politicians in the state, argued Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that his conviction was unjustified.

Attorney Lisa Matthews, representing Bryant and his codefendant, R. Michael Gallagher, a former dean at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, made a complex argument disputing the allegations that Bryant funneled about $11 million in public money to UMDNJ in exchange for a "low-show" job at the school, which he only occasionally showed up for.

Matthews said the job was more like a "gratuity" for "unspecified future official action."

"One cannot intend to influence an action one does not even know will come to pass," she said.

"We don't contend there is nothing wrong with this," she said, "but it is not the crime he was convicted of."

Bryant's defense team made several other arguments on his behalf. For example, defense attorney Ralph Jacobs argued that the prosecution improperly discouraged jurors from talking to defense attorneys after the grand jury testimony. He also said Bryant should not have to pay restitution because the school was not a victim.

Bryant is serving a four-year prison sentence for the July 2009 corruption conviction. He was also indicted late last year on a separate incident of alleged pay-to-play, in which federal investigators say he was paid $192,000 for legal work he didn't do in order to use his legislative power to push development projects in Camden, Pennsauken, and the Meadowlands.

The three-judge panel is not expected to return a decision for at least a month.