State v. Townsend Appellate Docket No.: A-5387-17T4 Decided August 28, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished decision, the Appellate Division reviewed whether of phone calls made on a recorded line from prison could be used as evidence to convict a defendant. In State v. Townsend, after a jury found…
State v. Lopez Appellate Docket No.: A-3786-19T4 Decided August 25, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished decision, the Appellate Division reviewed whether an inmate could cut his sentence short and be released because of COVID-19 and a worsening health condition. In State v. Lopez, Defendant sought to amend his…
Estate of Pickett v. Moore’s Lounge Docket No.: A-2230-17T2 Decided August 25, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent published decision, the Appellate Division considered whether a tavern’s assault and battery exception applied to the tavern’s alleged negligence in allowing assault and battery to occur. In Pickett, Plaintiff, Pickett and…
August 19, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. As of June 15, 2020, New Jersey has updated its expungement law, under the “Clean Slate” provisions. The Clean Slate law provides: Drug-related offenses resulting in a conviction are considered Disorderly Persons offenses for purposes of expungements. Having more than one drug offense is…
State v. Smith Appellate Docket No.: A-2840-18T1 Decided August 17, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished decision, the Appellate Division reviewed whether it was appropriate for the trial judge to sentence probation on a Second Degree Grave’s Act charge. In State v. Smith, defendant was stopped by police…
State v. Andrews Appellate Docket No.: A-72-18 Decided August 10, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Court reviewed whether the requirement of a defendant to turnover his passcode to his iphone constituted a violation of the 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination. In State v.…
State v. Andrews Appellate Docket No.: A-72-18 Decided August 10, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Court reviewed whether the requirement of a defendant to turnover his passcode to his iphone constituted a violation of the 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination. In State…
State v. Juan E. Cruz-Pena Appellate Docket No.: A-3-19 Decided August 4, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Court reviewed whether there was a kidnapping under the statute while a sex assault occurred. In State v. Cruz-Pena, defendant was charged in a multi-count indictment…
State v. Hedgespeth Appellate Docket No.: A-0850-18T3 Decided August 3, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent decision approved for publication, the Appellate Division reviewed whether there was a kidnapping under the statute while a sex assault occurred. In State v. Hedgespeth, defendant was convicted of third-degree possession of a controlled…
State v. Terres: Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Police were seeking to arrest a man named Fuller on a warrant and received information he was staying at a trailer park, possibly with defendant. State police informed officers defendant had been arrested and told officers that defendant said Fuller was at the trailer…
Legal Developments
That Affect You
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New Jersey Survivors Justice Act: Sentencing Reform for Abuse Victims
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In January 2026, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a pair of bills known as the Survivors Justice Act (S-4870/A-5968 and S-4871/A-5969). This landmark legislation, championed by Senator Angela V. McKnight, Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, and other lawmakers, amends the state’s criminal code to allow courts…