New Jersey Criminal Law
The Inadvertence Requirement From the Plain-View Doctrine
State v. Xiomara Gonzales November 12, 2016 NJ Supreme Court Decision Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Gonzales is one of two New Jersey Supreme Court decisions this week outlining a “Plainview doctrine” and the ability of the state to introduce evidence at the time of a suppression hearing or trial. This case…
Read MorePolice Plain View Doctrine in Your Home
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. If the police are lawfully called to your home for a domestic violence investigation are they allowed to walk around and perform a “safety sweep” in order to secure their safety while conducting a domestic violence investigation/call? The resounding answer is no! In this case the appellate…
Read MoreLatest discussion of a defendant’s ability to withdraw Guilty Plea
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark State v. Diaz. November 2, 2016 Several years ago the New Jersey Supreme court established a significantly greater burden when a defendant wants to withdraw his/her former guilty plea. Trial courts were required to advise defendants at the time of their plea that once the plea…
Read MoreEagles player charged for pot, gun after traffic stop
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. By JOSH CORNFIELD Associated Press A Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver was charged Tuesday with possession of a 9 mm handgun without a permit and having a small amount of marijuana after he was pulled over for speeding, according to a court complaint. Josh Huff was pulled over…
Read MorePolice Testimony Identifying Defendant in Video Ruled Improper
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark This is a further affirmation by the Appellate Division that limits the police from using out of court identifications and hearsay information/testimony to bring evidence before a jury in a prejudicial manner. In this case, State of New Jersey vs. Cooper, the appellate division disapproved of the…
Read MoreDefendant’s Pretrial Intervention Program Denial and Trial Court Review | State of New Jersey v. Fregm
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark State v. Fregm. October 17, 2016 In this decision the Appellate Division reversed the trial court for performed its own independent review of the 17 factors set forth in the PTI statute, found at New Jersey Statute Annotated 2C: 43–12(e)1, as opposed to only making a determination…
Read MoreHow the Use of Experts in Criminal Cases is Different from Experts in Civil Cases
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. State vs. Green Earlier this week we wrote a blog addressing the requirement for experts in civil cases to provide testimony regarding a defendant’s duty, breach of that duty, and the causal relationship to a plaintiff’s damage. These are civil burdens of proof the plaintiff is obligated…
Read MoreWhat is a ‘defacto’ arrest? Was I held by the police at the scene too long? What is a Terry Stop?
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Were the passengers with no criminal history Improperly detained and or arrested? As I stated in the facts above two of the defendants were detained even though their identification checked and they had no outstanding warrants for their arrest. The court observed these two defendants were placed…
Read MoreIf the police held me too long, or tricked me to give up evidence, can the evidence be thrown out by a judge?
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The issue here is whether the court should suppress any evidence obtained by illegal or improper police conduct. The general state of ‘exclusionary rule’ in the state and federal courts is that this ‘Rule’ is loosing favor. The question has become, regardless of the police conduct, there…
Read MoreYour Rights and the Ability of Police to Search Hotel Rooms and Vehicles | State v. Shaw and Bolden
Were the police allowed to search my hotel room without me there?? Are the police allowed to threaten me with ‘bringing the dog’ to sniff my car? If I am threatened about the ‘bringing the dog’, did i give good consent? Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. State v. Shaw and Bolden This…
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