ELIZABETH, New Jersey – In many ways this is a classic divorce case…he says he has no money, she says he’s hiding it and demands more support for herself and their child.  But this case is a little different in that “he” is the former governor of New Jersey and “she” is the former first lady.

James McGreevey and his estranged wife, Dina Matos McGreevey have now completed their first day in the financial part of their highly contested divorce case. We are bringing it to you live on In Session.

Tension in the courtroom is so thick you can cut it with a knife.  McGreevey, the plaintiff in this case, was the first witness. He was serious during his direct testimony but intermittently smiled and even joked a bit when testifying that he has no assets and is compiling quite a bit of debt because of this case. McGreevey joked that it was up to his attorneys if he has to pay some of those outstanding legal fees.

Matos McGreevey was a striking contrast to her estranged husband. She was serious, intense and appeared to be disgusted as McGreevey testified he had no money, didn’t remember how to practice law after so many years and was giving lectures when asked to for free.

Although cross-examination has only just begun of the former governor, Matos McGreevey’s attorney, John Post, immediately began to attack McGreevey on a consulting contract he acquired from a large New Jersey law firm after resigning from the governor’s office. The premise seems to be on cross-examination that McGreevey may have made and currently makes alot more money that he is accounting for in tax returns and through testimony.

Stephen Hallar, McGreevey’s attorney, said after court his client is earning to the best of his ability, he has no assets, and the couple’ s union was a short marriage with no marital assets…”half of nothing is nothing.”

In addition to child support, Matos McGreevey is asking for an increased amount of temporary alimony because of McGreevey’s alleged marital misconduct with his Homeland Security chief Golan Cipel. McGreevey admits an affair with the male staffer while Cipel has continually denied the allegation.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent