New Jersey Criminal Law
US Supreme Court Opinion Crawford Ruling Bludgeoned In NJ Trio of Cases Michaels, Roach and Williams
In three cases the NJ Supreme Court has allowed the state to call a witness who ‘reviewed’ lab results and prepared reports in criminal cases such as a supervisor of the actual lab technician who did the work was an adequate witness to be called at the time of trial. In Michaels, Roach and Williams…
Read MoreMan Admits to Killing Millville Police Officer
Laurel Lake man pleads guilty to 2012 accident that killed Millville Officer Christopher Reeves
This photo provided by the Millville Police Dept. shows Christopher W. Reeves. The southern New Jersey police officer has died after his cruiser and another vehicle collided early Sunday, July 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Millville Police Dept.)South Jersey Times BRIDGETON — Retracting his previous not guilty plea, Timothy Seidel admitted to being responsible for the death of…
Read MoreDriver in crash that killed cop pleads guilty
BRIDGETON – The motorist behind the wheel of the car that killed a Millville police officer two years ago accepted a plea deal in the case today, officials have said. Timothy Seidel has been in Cumberland County Jail since his arrest following the crash on July 8, 2012. He pleaded guilty Monday to charges of…
Read MoreResentencing After Prior Conviction
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark 14-2-4712 State v. Brown , App. Div. (per curiam) (25 pp.) Defendant appeals his convictions of second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a knife arising out of an altercation outside a fraternity house at Rutgers University. Prior Conviction Supporting Aggravating Sentencing Factors The…
Read MoreVioloation of Probation and Jail Credits
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark 14-2-4736 State v. Bell , App. Div. (per curiam) (11 pp.) Defendant appeals from the Law Division’s four-year sentence imposed following his guilty plea for violation of probation. He seeks additional jail credits corresponding to the period of custody from his arrest on new charges to…
Read MoreTime Matters: Determining When Questioning Becomes Arrest In Roadside Stops
Detention and Miranda Rights Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark This blog deals with issues of what constitutes a detention in which your Miranda rights must be read. The case is an appeal of the denial of a defendant’s motion to suppress evidence in State v. Hamb, decided July 25, 2014 by the…
Read MoreThe Importance of Asking All the Questions During Jury Selection
Submitted by This blog discusses Erga v. Chalmers, an appeal where plaintiffs sought a reversal of a no cause verdict and remand for a new trial. The remand for a new trial occurred because the trial court judge failed to ask Question Six of the Administrative Office of the Courts Directive #4-07. This Directive outlines…
Read MoreIn Millville fatal police car crash, critical court decision pending
Submitted by Criminal Defense Attorney, Jeffrey Hark Original published on NJ.com BRIDGETON — A critical decision rests in the court’s hands in the case involving Timothy Seidel, the Commercial Township man charged in connection with the death of Patrolman Christopher Reeves in 2012. Last week, the state filed a motion aiming to preclude the defense from arguing that…
Read MorePolice Shoot-Outs, Consecutive Sentences, and In-Court Identification
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark On June 25, 2014 this blog discussed the Yarbough criteria for sentencing as set forth in State v. Yarbough, 100 N.J. 627 (1985). In short these included: No free crimes (defendant must be sentenced for each crime they are found guilty of committing). Reason for consecutive v.…
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