14-2-2814 State v. Gathers, N.J. Super. App. Div. (Fisher, P.J.A.D.) (13pp) Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. A case was recently decided by New Jersey Appellate Division in which the Court ruled a buccal (mouth) swab, taken from a defendant while he awaited trial, was unreasonable. In this case, the defendant was charged with second-degree…
Published by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark State v. SCRIVEN Today, after a three year trial and appellate court battle, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled the police cannot allege a driver improperly used their high-beams if there are no approaching vehicles in the oncoming lanes of traffic in order to effectuate a motor…
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. 14-2-9404 State v. Winslow, App. Div. (per curiam) (13 pp.) A long standing standard ‘slow night’ policing tactic includes an officer conducted a “registry check” at the neighborhood low end ‘motels’ or hotels in town looking for anyone with an outstanding warrant for arrest for any reason. In this…
Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark The key in this ROVING WIRE TAP CASE IS AS FOLLOWS: State vs Hector Feliciano The court found the New Jersey legislature, when it did not adopt the eased ‘proximity’ language from the federal counterpart, this state maintained the original, stricter standard that requires the State…
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…
State v. Antoine D. Watts (A-21-14) (074556) Argued September 17, 2015 — Decided December 2, 2015 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark New Jersey Supreme Court decision: The issue in this case is whether the second search of a defendant for 6 minutes after he was initially detained on a street corner…
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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…