by: M.P. Prosecutors in the case of Rabbi Osher Eisemann have secured yet another extension – their third one – further pushing off their deadline to submit their appeal brief.

While in the past Rabbi Eisemann’s defense lawyers have given them the courtesy and have granted the prosecutors the extensions without forcing them to ask the Appellate Division, the defense has now decided to push back and denied the request, instead agreeing to allow for only a 14-day extension. The prosecutors, saying that 14 days was insufficient, brought their request to the Appellate Division, and the court granted their requested 30-day extension, but the court stated that no further extensions would be granted. This puts the deadline for the prosecutors to submit their brief at November 12.

The brief that the prosecutors keep pushing off is the State’s first, and only, full brief detailing their grounds for appeal. In it, they are expected to describe why they feel that Rabbi Eisemann deserves a 12-year prison term R”L, and why the reasons outlined in the defense’s brief (filed by Rabbi Eisemann’s lawyers in July) for the case to be dismissed are faulty. Experts have pointed out that the repeated requests for extensions may indicate that they are having difficulty formulating suitable responses to the eight grounds of appeal listed by Rabbi Eisemann’s lawyers in their July brief.

Rabbi Eisemann was found Not Guilty in February on the most pressing charges brought against him, but the jury returned a Guilty verdict on two of the more minor charges. On April 29, Judge Ben Bucca sentenced him to 60 days in jail, 2-years of probation, and a $250,000 fine, despite the prosecutors’ request for a 12-year prison term. The prosecutors filed a brief outlining their intention to appeal the sentence, and to push for a harsher sentence, R”L. The defense, in response, filed their own appeal. All throughout the trial, the defense filed numerous motions pointing out flaws in various steps of the case, but the trial judge pushed for the case to proceed to the jury anyways. Those issues, as well as additional important factors that prove Rabbi Eisemann’s complete innocence, are outlined in the defense’s call to appeal the convictions and to reverse any ramifications associated with them.

Askonim directly involved in the case said the following: “The continued stalling by the prosecutors to respond to the appeal is more than just a nuisance. Each additional court filing and letter can cost a significant sum. Klal Yisroel united in support of Rabbi Eisemann all through the case and funded the cost of a top-notch legal defense team, which would have been impossible without the help of the tzibur. Now, as the appeal drags on, more funds are needed in order to continue fighting.

A big legal bill is due at the end of October, which must be paid in order for the appeal to carry on. Many of those reading this have already donated generously toward the legal fees and expenses. However, if you are able to add to your donation, please understand that at this time, everything counts. Donations can be called in, 24 hours a day, to 732.813.1212. Online donations can be made at pidyonshvuyim.com. Checks payable to CZR can be mailed to 307 Dewey Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701.

As always, the Eisemann family asks that people continue to have in mind Osher ben Chana Frumet in their tefillos.”