MOVIES - Dec. 20, 1990

Bonfire of the Justices: New Jersey’s top judge violated the U.S. Constitution when he banned filming of “The Bonfire of the Vanities” in the Essex County Courthouse, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Politan harshly criticized Robert Wilentz, chief justice of the state Supreme Court, saying he violated the First Amendment by banning the filming in May. Wilentz argued that the depiction of rioting black characters would undermine what little faith blacks have left in the justice system. He said that he would appeal the decision.