Judge Pressures Husband To Give Jewish Divorce Document

A New York trial court judge has again raised the issue of how far a civil court may go in pressuring parties in a divorce action to perform a religious act.  Yesterday's New York Post reports that Brooklyn judge  Esther Morgenstern, in divorce proceedings of a Jewish couple, has told the husband that unless he gives his wife a get (Jewish religious divorce document), she will order him to pay alimony for life.  The wife's attorney says this is justified because without a get it will be almost impossible for the wife to remarry and receive financial support.  Adding complexity to the case is the fact that Judge Morgenstern herself some 25 years ago was involved in a divorce where her husband resisted giving her a get.