Trying Cases to Win

Judge Herbert Stern is a legend in the trial bar. Stern served from 1962 to 1965 as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, during which he participated in the investigation of the assassination of Malcolm X. He went on to become the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. He handled several major corruption and organized crime trials in New Jersey. By age 36, Stern had prosecuted eight mayors, two secretaries of state, two state treasurers, two powerful political bosses, a U.S. congressman and 64 other public officials, inspiring the book “Tiger in the Court.” His judicial service is best remembered for the unique case of United States v. Tiede, an airline hijacking prosecution that was the sole case ever tried in the United States Court for Berlin, over which Stern was specially designated to preside by selection of the U.S. Department of State. The case was made into the movie “Judgment in Berlin.” He went on to serve as special counsel for the Iran-Contra indictments aga