Author: John G. Geppert, Jr.

Supreme Court Sides With Church in Grant Funding Suit

NJ Supreme Court to Determine Constitutionality of Church Grants t

The Supreme Court of New Jersey recently agreed to consider whether the New Jersey Constitution bans a county government from giving historic preservation grants to local churches. The case is Freedom from Religion Foundation v. Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  The suit, which was brought by the Freedom From

NJ Council on Local Mandates Rejects Bail Reform Challenge

NJ Council on Local Mandates Rejects Bail Reform Challenge

The New Jersey Council on Local Mandates recently issued a formal decision rejecting the New Jersey Association of Counties’ challenge to the state’s bail reform law. The Counties had alleged that the reforms set forth in the Criminal Justice Reform Act (CJRA) constitute an unfunded mandate and are thus unconstitutional.

NJ Appeals Court Clarifies Elements of NJCRA Claim

NJ Appeals Court Clarifies Elements of NJCRA Claim

In a recent decision, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court clarified that familial and social affiliations do not qualify as the constitutionally protected conduct required to make a claim under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act (NJCRA). In Lapolla v. County of Union, the plaintiff alleged that

OPMA

NJ Supreme Court Overturns Arbitration Award in Teacher Misconduct Case

In Bound Brook Board of Education v. Glenn Ciripompa, the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that an arbitrator exceeded his authority by applying the standard for proving a hostile-work-environment, sexual-harassment claim under the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) to a claim of unbecoming conduct in a tenured teacher misconduct hearing.  Facts

Kaminskas

NJ Supreme Court: State Police Did Not Waive Sovereign Immunity Against Plaintiff’s ADA Claim

In Brian Royster v. New Jersey State Police, the Supreme Court of New Jersey ruled that the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) was entitled to sovereign immunity with respect to plaintiff’s claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The plaintiff, a former state trooper, had argued that the NJSP

keyport

NJ Supreme Court Narrows Keyport Decision

In IMO Robbinsville Twp BOE v. Washington Twp Educ. Assoc., the Supreme Court of New Jersey significantly narrowed its 2015 decision in IMO Borough of Keyport. In so ruling, the court reversed what it saw as an improper expansion of its ruling to authorize a school board to unilaterally impose