New Jersey Supreme Court Dismisses Minor Municipal Court Warrants

February 1, 2019 |

If you have an outstanding arrest warrant for a municipal court case issued before 2003, your case may have been dismissed. Search dismissed cases here. Q. Was my case dismissed? Your case might be dismissed if: Your case is open, you failed to appear in court, and an arrest warrant was issued before Jan. 1,…

Withdrawing a Guilty Plea. How to do this and what you need to do to be successful

February 1, 2019 |

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark I plead Guilty to a charge and now want to withdraw that guilty plea due to some significant changes in factual circumstances! How do I do this and what do I need to do to be successful with the Motion to withdraw my Guilty Plea? STATE OF…

Inappropriate comments by a prosecutor in his opening and closing statements leads to overturning murder convictions. What did the prosecutor say that was wrong?

January 31, 2019 |

State of New Jersey v Greene & Lewis New Jersey Appellate Division decision decide to January 28, 2019. Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Simply put, in this case the prosecutor made reference to possible testimony from a witness who heard a confession by one of the defendants that he committed the shooting…

One Lawyer, 194 Felony Cases and No Time

January 31, 2019 |

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Mr. Talaska was not outside the norm. Of the public defenders in Louisiana handling felony caseloads at that time, there were two dozen with even more clients. One had 413. Jack Talaska William Widmer for The New York Times The numbers alone might seem to violate the…

Right to Remain Silent: Comments made when girlfriend records your statement with the help of police – Comments made in Closing are “FAIR COMMENT”

January 26, 2019 |

State v. Santamaria NJ Supreme Court Decision January 28, 2019 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Facts: Former middle school teacher Guillermo Santamaria was tried and convicted of aggravated sexual assault and official misconduct for his sexual relationship with a student at his school from the time she was fourteen. In this appeal we…

Sexually explicit: New Jersey Supreme Court rules photos of relationship post 18 years old victim can be used to show sexual relationship while victim was underage.

January 26, 2019 |

Photos considered Relevant Evidence of long standing sexual relationship State v. Santamaria NJ Supreme Court Decision January 28, 2019 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Facts: Former middle school teacher Guillermo Santamaria was tried and convicted of aggravated sexual assault and official misconduct for his sexual relationship with a student at his school…

NJ Supreme Court Decision State v. Santamaria Procedural Issue: Standard of review for a trial error when the defense fails to make an objection at the time of trial but raises the issue on appeal

January 26, 2019 |

State v. Santamaria NJ Supreme Court Decision January 28, 2019 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Facts: Former middle school teacher Guillermo Santamaria was tried and convicted of aggravated sexual assault and official misconduct for his sexual relationship with a student at his school from the time she was fourteen. In this appeal we consider…

Restitution hearings: A defendant’s requirements to pay restitution and his/her ability to pay.

January 26, 2019 |

STATE OF NEW JERSEY, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. GREGORY T. ISAZA,  Defendant  Decided January 25, 2019 SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Issue:  The court increase the defendant probation after the defendant was already sentenced and required defendant make restitution without a hearing to determine of the defendant has the ability to pay or to determine…

Do NOT consent to give any DNA EVER!!!

January 24, 2019 |

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Coming Soon to a Police Station Near You: The DNA ‘Magic Box’ With Rapid DNA machines, genetic fingerprinting could become as routine as the old-fashioned kind. But forensic experts see a potential for misuse.   BENSALEM, Pa. — They call it the “magic box.” Its trick is…

DCPP v. V.F. NJ Appellate Division Approved for Publication January 22, 2019. Appellate court rejects trial judge’s use of HGN DWI test used in State’s Case Abuse and Neglect to prove intoxicated parent to remove children from home.

January 23, 2019 |

DCPP v. V.F. NJ Appellate Division Approved for Publication January 22, 2019. Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark This appellate panel rejects the HGN, the horizontal gaze nystagmus DWI test, offered by the state to prove a parent was under the influence in an Abuse and Neglect case. The court rejected the HGN offered…