ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY — Dina Matos McGreevey left immediately when court was finished Tuesday. She was first on the elevator, then bounded out the back door of the courthouse after testimony concerning her part of the case as the defendant in the divorce trial of McGreevey v McGreevey.

The plaintiff, former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey, finally finished his testimony earlier in the day after extended direct questioning and a contentious cross-examination by attorney John Post, who represents his estranged wife.

McGreevey describes his employment situation as tenuous at best. An offer to host a local television show required too much commuting time and he said his divinity studies to become an Episcopal priest take up at least half of his day. McGreevey currently makes $48,000 per year, and when asked by the judge if he is planning on expanding his income to satisfy debts, including over $250,000 to his partner, McGreevey’s response was “I am working towards that.”

Matos McGreevey’s case began with forensic CPA Kalman Barson. He testified that Matos McGreevey is entitled to the same marital standard of living she enjoyed as the first lady of New Jersey, including perks such as a personal assistant and driver. Her attorney contends she should be compensated for what she lost when her husband resigned as New Jersey’s governor in August 2004.

Matos McGreevey may take the stand as early as today. McGreevey’s attorney Stephen Hallar is known as a tough cross examiner, so you never know what may happen in the courtroom.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

ELIZABETH, New Jersey – Along with the legal wrangling, it is sad to sit in the courtroom at the divorce trial of former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey and his estranged wife, Dina Matos McGreevey.

This couple must have been close companions at one time, sharing not only a child, but common goals and aspirations. Now, just a few feet separate them but they do not acknowledge each other’s existence. It’s a sad thing to witness, but something that must be a common occurrence when a divorce ends up in a courtroom.

McGreevey, the plaintiff here, casually talks to the New York and New Jersey media during breaks in proceedings or after court. They address him as governor, and he addresses them with a smile and sometimes a joke.

Matos McGreevey, the defendant, sits alone and ladylike at the defense table, seriously listening to the testimony and taking notes. She speaks only to her legal counsel.

The former governor is set to continue his testimony today, and when McGreevey’s part of this divorce action is completed, Dina Matos McGreevey is then expected to take the stand.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

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

ELIZABETH, New Jersey – Illness has forced a sudden delay in the start of the divorce trial of former New Jersey governor James McGreevey and his estranged wife Dina Matos McGreevey. Court officials have told In Session that there will be no new negotiations today.

On Monday, talks between the couple broke down, forcing the trial. Dina Matos McGreevey was already wearing her dark sunglasses when she stepped out of the elevator with her attorney, John Post and left through the back door of the courthouse here in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The smile on her face didn’t waver, and just minutes later we learned things were not on track for a settlement in the second next phase of the couple’s divorce trial.

Jim McGreevey was already gone when his attorney, Stephen Haller, told the media here the case will now proceed to an open trial with witnesses…the first being the former governor himself. Hallar said that absolutely no progress was made on the issues of child support, alimony and equitable distribution of assets and liabilities. He went on to say these financial issues are more contentious than the child custody phase, which the couple finally agreed on late last week. That settlement is sealed.

Matos McGreevey is asking for child support and alimony along with damages in the amount of approximately $600,000, to compensate for the lifestyle she says she lost in her early exit as first lady of the Garden State. She’s also claiming fraud, because she says the former governor induced her to marry him only to further his political career when he fully knew he was homosexual.

Haller said he believes the trial will last two weeks, and also said there is almost no doubt the fraud claim, which will be addressed separately, will end up at trial. In Session’s cameras are in the courtroom, and we will bring you live action as soon as it starts.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

ELIZABETH, New Jersey – Developing now: The divorce case of James McGreevey and his estranged wife Dina Matos McGreevey is headed for the courtroom.

Attorney Stephen Haller has just told media gathered outside the Union County Courthouse that both sides have suspended talks over financial matters and the judge has scheduled the trial to begin tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET.

Haller says he’ll call his client, the former New Jersey governor, as the first witness. Stay tuned to In Session, we’ll broadcast the proceedings live.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

ELIZABETH, New Jersey – We waited and waited and then waited some more. Finally, a little after 8 p.m. Thursday night outside the Union County courthouse in Elizabeth, New Jersey, former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey and his estranged wife Dina Matos McGreevey separately exited the courthouse. Their attorneys later said a settlement had been reached concerning the custody and parenting of the couple’s 6-year-old daughter, Jacqueline.

While the agreement is sealed, I watched the demeanor of each participant and my gut tells me the former governor was clearly victorious. As he walked to his car, McGreevey told reporters he was so happy. He seemed to be overcome with joy. Stephen Haller, who represents McGreevey, succinctly added that his client was “absolutely delighted.”

Matos McGreevey on the other hand was silent as she walked past the press; she had a smile on her face, but seemed nervous. Her attorney, John Post, was measured, describing Matos McGreevey as “satisfied.”

Jim McGreevey has been seeking equal parenting time with his daughter for some time now. Whether he got that 50/50 split he wanted is anybody’s guess, but I think it’s darn close to what he was looking for.

Now it is back to square one for the remaining issues which include financials, along with a fraud and libel claim by Matos McGreevey. She asserts in legal documents that the former governor defrauded her into marriage because he knew he was gay but married her anyway. She also alleges her reputation as a hospital fundraiser has been damaged because McGreevey has referred to her in the press as homophobic.

It all gets underway again on Monday. Stay tuned to In Session for all the latest.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

ELIZABETH, New Jersey — I am here in Elizabeth, New Jersey for the divorce trial of former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey. There’s only one problem…there is no trial.

In Session has learned that settlement talks are continuing, but an announcement scheduled to be made this afternoon by both sides may not be happening.

The big question is whether the McGreeveys are actually resolving issues they have been fought over for several years now. And what about that fraud claim brought by Dina Matos McGreevey? She wants damages, she says, for being fraudently induced into marriage by the former governor.

McGreevey resigned from office in 2004, announcing at a press conference that he was a “gay American.” McGreveey also told the nation at that time he had been having an affair with his male homeland security advisor.

Yesterday, attorneys for both parties issued a joint statement saying, “We are happy to report on behalf of both of our clients that they have made progress toward settling their case.” At the center of many contentious issues has been the custody of the couple’s 6-year-old daughter. In addition to custody and support, Matos McGreevey is asking for $600,000 to compensate her for the life she lost as first lady after her husband resigned.

If talks break down, there may just be that divorce trial…stay tuned to In Session.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

NEW YORK — Here’s a case you may want to pay attention to. Beginning Tuesday, the divorce battle between former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey and his wife, Dina Matos McGreevey heads to the courtroom. The couple was married for about 4 years with a young daughter when McGreevey came out in a 2004 press conference, saying he was a “gay American.” That breaking news was not the only bombshell. The then-governor admitted to having an affair with one of his male staff members.

A Union County, New Jersey family court judge has basically begged the couple repeatedly to settle the matter out of court without success. So now a very public trial is set to begin. Some of the issues to be litigated are: child custody, financial support and fraud.

Although the first part of the case, concerning child custody and parenting, will be closed, the remainder of the trial will be open to the public for all to hear exactly what went on inside the walls of the New Jersey governor’s mansion.

Matos McGreevey is asking for $600,000 to compensate for the lifestyle she would have led as first lady of New Jersey if her husband had completed his term. Additionally, McGreevey’s wife has filed a claim of fraud, claiming that the former governor married her so he could achieve his political dreams as a straight husband and father.

McGreevey’s lawyers want to call to the stand a man by the name of Ted Pedersen. He is a former driver of the McGreeveys who says he engaged in sexual romps with the couple during their courtship and marriage. Jim McGreevey wants to use this testimony to try and prove his wife knew he was attracted to men even before they married and that she was not defrauded regarding his sexual orientation.

According to a legal brief written by McGreevey’s counsel, the former governor will testify. “Mr. Pedersen’s testimony will be corroborated by the testimony of the plaintiff.” Matos McGreevey denies the trysts ever occurred.

In Session will be on the ground covering this case. We’ll see you in New Jersey.

– Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

NEW YORK – From the moment I arrived at the Queens County Courthouse, I knew tensions were high and emotions were volatile. The verdict was about to be announced in the Sean Bell case. This is the case in which a 23-year-old groom-to-be was shot dead by New York Police detectives November 25, 2006.

Bell was concluding his bachelor party in those early morning hours when 50 shots came from the guns of five police detectives. Three of those detectives had been charged, and two of the three, if convicted, could have been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The officers said those bullets were justified because they reasonably believed that Bell’s friend had a gun and would use it on them.

Now, after a lengthy trial, Judge Arthur Cooperman was to deliver the verdict. He presided at a “bench trial” because the defendant detectives gave up their right to a jury trial and asked for a judge to determine their guilt or innocence.

A few minutes after 9 a.m., people started running out of the courthouse, screaming, “Not guilty!” Hundreds of supporters for Bell and his friends voiced their objections to the verdict through protests that got very loud as I was doing my live shots.

Law enforcement officers circled the courthouse, forming a security base in case emotions ran too high. They did not. Protesters remained peaceful. When Bell’s fiancee and family left the courthouse, supporters followed them as they made their way to Bell’s gravesite.

Once again, we see a family that has lost a son, a fiancee who lost her future husband, police officers who said they reasonably believed that they were in danger themselves and a very experienced judge who looked at the facts and the law to render his verdict.

– Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

DETROIT, Michigan — The jury has just found Jean Pierre Orlewicz, 18, guilty of first degree murder, felony murder and mutilation. The jurors did not look at anyone as they filed in. Daniel Sorensen’s father began to sob. The family of the defendant remained stoic. Jurors deliberated for 10 hours and 40 minutes over two days.

– Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent