William E. Baroni Jr. is an American politician, attorney, and law professor who represented New Jersey's 14th legislative district in both the General Assembly and the State Senate. A member of the Republican Party, Baroni built a career in public service and legal education. In 2010, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie appointed him to the prominent position of Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.\n\nBaroni's tenure at the Port Authority came to an abrupt end in December 2013 when he resigned amid the unfolding Fort Lee lane closure controversy, commonly known as "Bridgegate." He was subsequently indicted and convicted on seven counts of conspiracy and wire fraud related to his role in the political scandal. Although initially sentenced to two years in prison, which was later reduced to 18 months, Baroni maintained his legal defense throughout the proceedings.\n\nHis legal battle culminated on May 7, 2020, when the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously overturned his conviction in the landmark case Kelly v. United States. The court ruled that while the actions of the officials involved represented an abuse of power, they did not violate the federal property fraud statutes under which they had been prosecuted.
