NORTH BERGEN, NJ (November 28, 2016) – The International Longshoremen’s Association announced that former United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, the Honorable Joel A. Pisano, has been appointed the union’s Ethical Practices Officer, replacing Judge Milton Mollen who had held the post since 2004.
Judge Pisano recently returned to private practice after a distinguished judicial career, having served more than 20 years on the federal bench.
In 2000, President Bill Clinton appointed Judge Pisano a United States District Judge, a position he held until his retirement from the judiciary in 2015. Previously, Judge Pisano served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of New Jersey from 1991 to 2000.
A New Jersey native, Judge Pisano received his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark and began his legal career with the Public Defender’s office in Newark in the early 1970’s before going into private practice. In private practice, Judge Pisano represented clients in both civil and criminal matters.
“The ILA is proud and honored to appoint the distinguished Judge Joel A. Pisano as our Ethical Practice Officer,” said ILA President Harold J. Daggett. “We thank Judge Milton Mollen for having served so admirably as our ILA Ethical Practices Officers for more than 12 years. We are certain that Judge Pisano will carry on the high ethical standards established by the esteemed and respected Judge Mollen.”
Judge Pisano described the role and purpose of the Ethical Practices Officer:
“The purpose of the appointment of an Ethical Practices Counsel is for ‘dealing with organized crime influences, corruption, and enforcing the provisions of Part VI’ of the Code of Ethics. Part VI of the Code prohibits ILA officers, representatives, employees, and benefit fund trustees from, among other things, accepting payments for jobs, having improper contacts with individuals barred from ILA activity, knowingly associating with organized crime members, and allowing any such person to influence the ILA’s affairs. ILA members are encouraged to carefully read the Code of Ethics for further details.
“Like Judge Mollen, I will now ‘investigate allegations of organized crime influence, corruption, or engaging in prohibited conduct under Part VI.’ In order to make a complaint about corruption or organized crime influences, ILA members can utilize a toll-free hotline to reach my law firm, Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga LLP. The number for the hotline has not changed; it is still 800-367-9011.
ILA members are encouraged to call the hotline with complaints or concerns that fall within the scope of my responsibilities as the Ethical Practices Counsel. Notably, it is not my role to investigate “routine complaints or grievances by members, or . . . alleged violations of the ILA Constitution, unless the matter also involves an allegation of organized crime influence, corruption or prohibited conduct under Part VI.” Complaints will remain strictly confidential, and a caller may maintain anonymity while providing my firm with information.
As the Ethical Practices Counsel, I will be committed to ensuring the ILA is free from corruption and organized crime influence through my thorough investigations and prompt responses to complaints and inquiries from ILA members. I look forward to serving the ILA membership in my new position.
“The ILA demands honest and fair representation for all our members from the officers who represent them,” said President Daggett. “Our Ethical Practices Officer safeguards our members’ rights.”