On November 24, 2025, the United States Supreme Court decided the case of Pitts v. Mississippi. The principal issue concerned the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause. This was a “per curiam” opinion. “Per curiam” opinions are supposed to involve such a...
On November 20, 2025, the New Jersey Supreme Court decided the Middlesex County case of State v. Darryl Nieves. The principal issue concerned the scientific reliability of testimony regarding Shaken Baby Syndrome / Abusive Head Trauma. Justice Pierre-Louis, my Rutgers...
On October 15, 2025 the United States Supreme Court denied the application for a stay of a death sentence in the case of Crawford v. Mississippi. Justice Alito was presented with the application and denied a writ of certiorari. Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justices...
On November 17, 2025, a 6-3 majority of the United States Supreme Court denied a petition for certiorari in the case of Hutson v. U.S. Justice Gorsuch would grant the petition. Justice Alito, joined by Justice Thomas, dissented from the denial of certiorari in...
On November 10, 2025, the United States Supreme Court denied a petition for a writ of certiorari in the case of Veneno v. U.S. The principal issue concerned the continued validity of an 1886 case that addressed the federal government’s power over American Indian...
On July 28, 2025, the New Jersey Supreme Court decided the case of M.R. v. Department of Corrections. The principal issue concerned whether a physical examination is required for a medical diagnosis to be rendered regarding the Compassionate Release Act. Justice...
On August 11, 2025, a 6-1 majority of the New Jersey Supreme Court decided the case of Krug v. State Parole Board. The principal issue concerned ex post facto prohibitions and an amendment to the Parole Act of 1948. An "ex post facto" law is a law makes a past lawful...
On October 23, 2025, a6-3 majority of the U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay of execution application in the case of Boyd v. Hamm. Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson dissented in relevant part: Take out your phone, go to the clock app, and find the...
On January 13, 2025, a unanimous New Jersey Supreme Court decided the Passaic County case of State v. Celestine Payne. The principal issue concerned whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying Celestine Payne’s petition for release under the...
On June 16, 2025, a unanimous New Jersey Supreme Court decided the Camden County case of In re the Matter Concerning the State Grand Jury (A-15-24) (089571). The principal issue concerned a trial court’s declining to empanel a special grand jury and finding that an...