New Jersey Courts Successfully Relying on Technology to Keep Cases Moving

The New Jersey Court system is relying on technology to remain “open” amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. According to the Supreme Court of New Jersey, more than 12,000 court events involving more than 80,000 participants have taken place remotely since March 16, 2020. Remote Court Proceedings New Jersey judges and

NJ Supreme Court Clarifies Grand Jury Instructions on Lesser-included Offenses

In State v. Isaiah Bell (A-58-18/081743) (Decided April 14, 2020), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that a prosecutor’s failure to instruct the grand jury on lesser-included offenses for murder in response to questions posed by a grand juror did not constitute an abuse of prosecutorial discretion. However, it

New Jersey Becomes First State to Allow New Law Graduates to Practice During Pandemic

The Supreme Court of New Jersey has authorized new law school graduates to begin practicing even though they have not yet passed the bar exam. Under the court’s order, they will be permitted to practice temporarily under the supervision of experienced attorneys. “At this challenging time, the public has a

NJ Supreme Court Confirms Prosecutors Can Subpoena Inmate Phone Conversations

In State v. Mark Jackson; State v. Jamie Monroe (A-18/19-19/083286) (Decided April 1, 2020), the Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed an Appellate Division decision holding that prosecutors may subpoena inmates’ recorded telephone conversations. Facts of State v. Jackson; State v. Monroe Defendant Mark Jackson was arrested after his mother

Divided NJ Supreme Court Addresses Damages in Neighbor Disputes

In Kornbleuth v. Westover, (A-71-18/081898) (Decided March 11, 2020), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held property owners who filed a lawsuit against their neighbors over the destruction of bamboo “fence” were required to show their property value was diminished as a result. Facts of Kornbleuth v. Westover Plaintiffs Joseph

NJ Supreme Court Greenlights Employee’s Cannabis Discrimination Suit

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently gave the green light to a funeral director who filed a suit under the state’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD) alleging that he was terminated for legally using medical marijuana. According to the court’s decision in Wild v. Carriage Funeral Holdings, Inc., (A-91-18/082836) (Decided March

NJ Supreme Court Rules Police Stop Lacking Reasonable Suspicion Was Unconstitutional

In State v. Donna M. Alessi (A-41/42-17/079255) (Decided January 27, 2020), the New Jersey Supreme Court confirmed that the police may not pull over a driver for questioning in furtherance of an investigation without reasonable suspicion that she committed a crime or traffic violation. As the court explained, “A law