In State v. Shawn M. Fenimore (A-18-24/089786) (Decided July 30, 2025), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that law enforcement’s warrantless search of a car was inconsistent with the New Jersey State Constitution. According to the Court, New Jersey’s more limited automobile exception did not apply when the car
In State v. Ebenezer Byrd (A-3/4/5-24/089469) (Decided July 24, 2025), the Supreme Court of New Jersey clarified the steps a trial judge must take in response to serious mid-trial allegations of juror misconduct. According to the Court, when allegations of juror misconduct arise during trial, the court must assess their plausibility.
In Englewood Hospital & Medical Center v. State (A-16-24/089696) (Decided July 16, 2025), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that New Jersey’s charity care program, which prevents hospitals from turning away patients for inability to pay and from billing qualified patients, is not an unconstitutional “per se” physical taking
In Whiteman v. Township Council of Berkeley Township (A-40-24/089641) (Decided July 10, 2025), the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that South Seaside Park can secede from Berkeley Township. According to the unanimous Court, the Berkeley Township Planning Board failed to independently evaluate the merits of a deannexation petition and
In Kratovil v. City of New Brunswick (A-6-24/089427) (Decided June 17, 2025), the Supreme Court of New Jersey upheld Daniel’s Law, which prohibits the disclosure of the home addresses of certain public officials, including judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement personnel. In rejecting an as-applied challenge to Daniel’s Law by a
On June 30, 2025, Gov. Phil Murphy signed public notice reform legislation into law. The new law (S-4654/A-5878) requires – beginning March 1, 2026 – a public entity to publish or advertise legal notices on its official website. The new law also mandates that private entities required to publish legal notices
In Jersey City United Against the New Ward Map v. Jersey City Ward Commission (A-10/11-24) (089292) (Decided June 18, 2025), the Supreme Court of New Jersey rejected a challenge to a Jersey City ward map enacted in 2022. In a 4-3 decision, the Court found that the map was sufficiently
In In Re Appeal of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s September 6, 2022 Denial of Request for Adjudicatory Hearing (A-42-23/089182) (Decided April 7, 2025), the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) grant of a waiver suspending certain environmental remediation obligations does not
