On January 23, 2025, a three-judge appellate panel decided the Essex County case of State v. Stephanie Martinez. The principal issue under N.J.S.A. 2C:3-4 concerned the propriety of a passion provocation manslaughter conviction when a jury also found that the State...
The Appellate Division concluded with the following in relevant part: While we are mindful of the administrative burdens that will result from remanding a potentially large number of pipeline cases for new jury trials, we are not prepared to hold that the defendants...
The Appellate Division continued in relevant part: Based on the opinion's clear directive, we are reticent to conclude that the Erlinger majority meant for the constitutional rights recognized in Apprendi and its progeny to be treated essentially as a second-class...
On November 27, 2024, a three-judge appellate panel decided the Atlantic County case of State v. Jamel Carlton. The principal issue under N.J.S.A. 2C:44-3 concerned to application of New Jersey’s persistent offender sentencing statue in light of the U.S. Supreme...
On December 20, 2024, a three-judge appellate panel decided the Essex County case of State v. Jeremy Arrington. The principal issue under N.J.S.A. 2C:4-1 concerned whether a defendant could testify to their alleged insanity without accompanying expert testimony....
The Appellate Division continued in relevant part: Defendant attempts to distinguish Cuccurullo because it was "in the context of applying motor vehicle penalties" rather than criminal penalties under N.J.S.A. 2C:40-26. This distinction is immaterial in the present...
The Appellate Division continued in relevant part: In the context of applying the enhanced penalties under N.J.S.A. 39:3-40 for driving while suspended for DWI, we previously determined in Cuccurullo that a defendant is "'under suspension' from the time that the...
On November 1, 2024, a three-judge appellate panel decided the Cape May County case of State v. Steven Italiano. The principal issue under N.J.S.A. 2C:40-26 concerned the appropriate charge for driving while suspended for a non-DWI, but subject to a court-ordered...
Judge Sabatino concluded in relevant part: The Court is cognizant that it can be impractical or hazardous for an officer to determine whether a driver clearly does not resemble the photo or description of the vehicle owner. The stop may occur at night in a poorly lit...
The unanimous New Jersey Supreme Court continued in relevant part: Data supplied by the Attorney General corroborates to some extent what the Supreme Court majority in Glover described as the “commonsense” nature of an inference that the vehicle owner, despite having...