Chief Justice Rabner Announces Two-Week Suspension of Municipal Court Sessions

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Municipal court sessions will be suspended for two weeks, beginning Monday, to mitigate public exposure to COVID-19 coronavirus, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced today. For the two-week period from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 27, individuals scheduled to appear before a Municipal Court to contest a…

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Ford v. Department of Corrections & Graf v. Department of Corrections

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The facts of both of these cases go as follows: in Ford, Plaintiff in this case was an inmate appealing the denial of his claim for reimbursement for lost, damages, or destroyed property. As he moved from pre-trial hearing detention to general population, his belongings were returned…

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N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1) unlawful possession of weapon

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,   v. KENNETH G. MURILLO, Decided December 11, 2019 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Defendant appeals from his conviction for second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1).1 Police found the gun stashed in a wall of a commercial establishment on a public street, where defendant had no privacy interest.…

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NJ Expungement’s New exception for “Crime Spree” charges for multiple convictions from one ‘event’. The sole issue presented on appeal is whether the 2018 crime spree amendment to N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(a) permits the expungement of C.P.M.’s 2005 convictions.

IN THE MATTER OF THE EXPUNGEMENT OF C.P.M.  December 6, 2019 APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION December 6, 2019 APPELLATE DIVISION Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. New Jersey’s expungement new procedure under the “crime spree” doctrine set forth in the 2018 amendment to N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(a). Because we conclude that C.P.M.’s convictions were not “closely related in…

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Field Inquiry by police or investigative detention?

Which one are you involved in? Are you free to leave? Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. STATE OF NEW JERSEY v. ROBERT O. GOODSON,  Decided December 3, 2019 Defendant Robert O. Goodson appeals from his October 27, 2017 conviction after his motion to suppress the evidence was denied. Because the facts track very closely with…

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State v. Phillips

State v. Phillips Docket No. A-3953-18T4 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark One night, police received complaints about drug dealing occurring at the Rodeway Inn, and the hotel manager told police that there had been heavy foot traffic in and out of Room 107. The police conducted surveillance and observed a male leave…

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State v. Graham

State v. Graham Docket No. A-4697-17T2 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Late one evening in March 2014, a police officer pulled over the defendant, Mr. Graham, for a broken headlight and tinted front windows. When the defendant rolled down his window, the officer testified to smelling a strong odor of raw marijuana,…

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CAN THE POLICE COME INTO MY HOTEL ROOM??

State v. Phillips New Jersey Appellate Division   November 18, 2019 (Not Approved for Publication) Decision: Remand to trial judge for further hearing Issue:   When and how can the police come into my hotel room??    It is a factually specific question based on the following law– Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey…

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