New Jersey Criminal Law
Videos Required In New Jersey on all New Police Patrol Vehicles
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark A law requiring all new municipal police patrol vehicles be equipped with video cameras was signed into law on Wednesday, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-4 of Washington Township) said. Moriarty, who sponsored the bill after an in-car camera captured his 2012 DWI arrest and provided evidence that lead to a dismissal…
Read MoreFrom Tip to Arrest: An Overview of Your Rights When Police Stop You
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. State v. Wright is an appeal of a denial of a motion to suppress evidence. This case touches on several important issues in criminal law including, de facto arrest, reasonable articulable suspicion v. probable cause, plain view doctrine, and exigent circumstances. The basic facts of the case…
Read MoreWhen Is Hearsay Relevant?
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In State v. Scharf, decided August 11, 2014, the defendant appealed his conviction of first-degree purposeful and knowing murder of his wife. The appeal is based on a claim that the judge erred in admitting hearsay statements made by his late wife’s counselor and friends and that…
Read MorePerception Is Reality: When Fake Weapons or Gestures Make a Robbery First Degree
In the case of State v. Kelvin Williams, the defendant walked into a bank wearing baggie clothes and a hoodie and demanded money. He claimed that he had a bomb and the teller believed him because of his erratic behavior and loose clothing. The defendant demanded seven million dollars but was only given $552 from…
Read MoreLast Call On Evidence: Rules of Discovery
In Gi v. Dugar decided August 11, 2014 by the Appellate Division, the case involved a head-on car accident between a plaintiff and defendant. On appeal the plaintiff claimed that the trial court erred in declining to consider an expert report from her doctor because it was submitted after discovery had ended. Discovery is the…
Read MoreThe Right to Cross-Examine A Witness
Justices Bar Recanted Statement’s Admission Absent Testimony In State v. Slaughter, decided August 12, 2014 concerns two defendants both accused the other of being the primary killers of a man while the other looked on. The defendant in this particular case claimed that he was smoking a cigarette outside the victim’s home which was also…
Read MoreUS Supreme Court Opinion Crawford Ruling Bludgeoned In NJ Trio of Cases Michaels, Roach and Williams
In three cases the NJ Supreme Court has allowed the state to call a witness who ‘reviewed’ lab results and prepared reports in criminal cases such as a supervisor of the actual lab technician who did the work was an adequate witness to be called at the time of trial. In Michaels, Roach and Williams…
Read MoreMan Admits to Killing Millville Police Officer
Laurel Lake man pleads guilty to 2012 accident that killed Millville Officer Christopher Reeves
This photo provided by the Millville Police Dept. shows Christopher W. Reeves. The southern New Jersey police officer has died after his cruiser and another vehicle collided early Sunday, July 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Millville Police Dept.)South Jersey Times BRIDGETON — Retracting his previous not guilty plea, Timothy Seidel admitted to being responsible for the death of…
Read MoreDriver in crash that killed cop pleads guilty
BRIDGETON – The motorist behind the wheel of the car that killed a Millville police officer two years ago accepted a plea deal in the case today, officials have said. Timothy Seidel has been in Cumberland County Jail since his arrest following the crash on July 8, 2012. He pleaded guilty Monday to charges of…
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