State vs. Wright: Identification of the defendant by the victim at the scene

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Attorney, Jeffrey Hark State vs. Wright Appellate Division February 29, 2016 (Approved for Publication) The next issue in this case is the identification of the defendant by the victim at the scene.  In 2011 the NJ Supreme Court handed down it surfing in State vs. Henderson.  That decision outlined a…

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New Jersey RULE 3:28. Pretrial Intervention Programs

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark State vs. A.S. Here is a brief review of the PTI standard and law governing the Prosecutor’s PTI program in New Jersey New Jersey’s PTI program is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12 and the Supreme Court’s guidelines for implementation, set forth in Rule 3:28. Generally, individuals with no…

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Discharge from PTI (New Jersey’s Pre-Trial Intervention Program)

State v. A.S., App. Div.   (Approved for Publication February 26, 2016) Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In this case the defendant was initially accepted into New Jersey’s Pre-Trial Intervention Program;  a first offenders rehabilitation program/probation program accessible to those who have no prior criminal record and are charged with 3rd or 4th degree non…

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Appellate Division Standard of Review of a Trial Court’s Decision

State vs. Webb Appellate Division February 12, 2016 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney, Jeffrey Hark. IN this blog we review, again, the Appellate Division’s scope and Standard of Review of a trial court’s decision.  These are bedrock fundamental concepts that need to be taken into consideration when you are actually at trial listening…

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Definition of “Significant” Injury in an Assault Case

State vs. Regan  Definition of “significant” Injury in an Assault Case — temporary loss of any bodily member or organ or ‘temporary loss of any one of the five senses.” Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In this case there was a question of fact regarding what this individual defendant did to cause…

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Prosecutorial Misconduct Can Be a Ground for Reversal

Prosecutorial misconduct can be a ground for reversal where the prosecutor’s misconduct was so egregious that it deprived the defendant of a fair trial. State vs. Regan   Appellate Division February 9, 2016 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. This case was won and or lost by the prosecutor based on several witness’ testimony…

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State v. Thorpe: Standard of Review by Appellate Court of Trial Court’s Determination

Appellate review of trial court determination  Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. 14-2-8702 State v. Thorpe , App. Div. (per curiam) (11 pp.)  This is an important case addressing the need by the police to independently verify information received from an anonymous caller to establish their own probable cause for the search, arrest and eventual charging of a criminal…

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Search and Seizure Based on an Anonymous Caller

CRIMINAL LAW – Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. 14-2-8702 State v. Thorpe , App. Div. (per curiam) (11 pp.)  This is an important case addressing the need by the police to independently verify information received from an anonymous caller to establish their own probable cause for the search, arrest and eventual charging of a criminal defendant. The…

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