Gov. Phil Murphy Grants Full Pardon To Orthodox Jew On His Final Day In Office

After months of sustained advocacy, Phil Murphy on Monday issued a pardon to Moshe Glick, wiping away state charges that had placed the West Orange resident at the center of a politically and legally contentious case tied to a protest outside a shul

The pardon, granted on Murphy’s final day in office, ends the prosecution of Glick, who had been charged in 2024 with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon stemming from a November incident at Congregation Ohr Torah in West Orange.

Glick, a physician and longtime community figure, intervened to protect another individual during a chaotic confrontation outside the shul, where a real estate event and memorial service were disrupted by an anti-Israel protest. Video evidence contradicted the state’s case and showed Glick acting defensively rather than as an aggressor.

The incident occurred on Nov. 13, 2024, when pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the shul, prompting clashes with attendees and counter-protesters. Essex County prosecutors initially alleged that pro-Israel counter-protesters were responsible for escalating the confrontation, a narrative that led to charges against Glick and others.

In September 2025, the Trump administration filed a 21-page civil complaint in federal court offering a sharply different version of events. The filing alleges that a mob of pro-Palestinian protesters descended on Congregation Ohr Torah, disrupted the event with antisemitic chants, and assaulted worshippers in an effort to interfere with the congregation’s right to freely exercise religion.

Federal officials said the protestors’ actions violated a civil rights statute traditionally used to prosecute individuals who obstruct or threaten access to abortion clinics.

“The practice of turning a blind eye to these attacks on houses of worship throughout the United States stops now,” said Harmeet Dhillon, head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, during a press conference announcing the complaint.

The federal action named Party for Socialism and Liberation in New Jersey and Muslims for Palestine in New Jersey. Representatives for the groups did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Supporters of Glick argued that his prosecution reflected a flawed investigation and an effort to pursue charges despite conflicting evidence. They pointed to surveillance and bystander video, as well as what they described as inconsistent testimony from the alleged victim, as undermining the state’s case.

Murphy’s decision to grant a pardon effectively ends the matter at the state level. While the governor’s office did not release a detailed explanation for the action, the pardon came amid growing pressure from advocates who said case is emblematic of broader concerns about antisemitism, protest-related violence, and prosecutorial discretion.