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May 6, 2008 6:51 pm US/Eastern
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Judge Closes Doors Of McGreevey Divorce Trial
Custody, Alimony, Child Support Initial Topics In Dispute
ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBS) ―
The mudslinging that's been going on for years between former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey and his estranged wife, Dina Matos McGreevey, is now going before a judge.
McGreevey had very little to say Tuesday as he entered a Union County courtroom.
"It's a beautiful day," was all reporters could get out of the disgraced former governor.
The first three days of the trial were to be held outside the glare of cameras and the media as Superior Court Judge Karen M. Cassidy considered custody issues concerning the couple's 6-year-old daughter.
Matos McGreevey had nothing to say as she left the courtroom.
McGreevey, who in an infamous speech told the world he had an extramarital affair with another man, wants physical joint custody of the couple's daughter. Family law expert Kevin Kelly says while joint physical custody is rare; there is a presumption for it under the law. But, then again, this is no ordinary case.
"It works best when couples agree to it on their own or the parents have shown an ability to get along, but he has an uphill battle in that regard given the fact these parents have shown they don't get along," Kelly said.
In a 2007 interview, Matos McGreevey told CBS 2 HD about the problems the two have had over their daughter's custody arrangement.
"The problem is he goes ahead and schedules whether it's birthday parties or trips when he clearly does not have time with Jacqueline," Matos McGreevey said.
But the most explosive part of the trial could be testimony from Teddy Pedersen, a former driver who claims he had a three-way sexual encounter with the couple. It's an accusation Matos McGreevey has denied.
McGreevey's attorney is trying to throw Pedersen's testimony. The former first lady is also suing McGreevey for what she calls being duped into a marriage with a gay man.
Matos McGreevey is seeking $600,000 as compensation for the time she would have lived at the governor's mansion had her husband not resigned in disgrace.
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