2021 NEW JERSEY EXPUNGEMENTS OF CRIMINAL RECORDS ARE TO BE FILED ELECTRONICALLY

December 21, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark As of December 8, 2020, New Jersey has updated its expungement law, with the Supreme Court of New Jersey requiring all parts of the judiciary to expand its eCourts electronic filing program to encompass expungement petitions.  The Order states as follows: Petitioners shall apply for…

Read More

Prior Convictions Admitted in Gun Crime Case, Despite the Conviction Being More Than 10 Years Prior – Evidence That Is Normally Not Admissible

State v. Hedgespeth Appellate Docket No.: A-0850-18T3 Decided August 3, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent decision approved for publication, the Appellate Division reviewed whether there was a kidnapping under the statute while a sex assault occurred. In State v. Hedgespeth, defendant was convicted of third-degree possession of a controlled…

Read More

If You Have Not Been Charged with a Crime, Police Do Not Have to Inform You If You Are Arrested or If You Are a Suspect

State v. Wade Appellate Docket No.: A-4388-18T4 Decided November 23, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In an unpublished opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey reviewed whether a suspect’s statement made to police is admissible when he was wrongfully informed that he was not under arrest. In State v. Wade, a dark-colored…

Read More

New Jersey halts in-person trials, grand jury proceedings due to COVID-19 surge

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The New Jersey Supreme Court on Monday suspended all in-person trials and grand jury proceedings due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. The order handed down by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner is effective immediately. It’s the second time this year that the pandemic has halted in-person trials…

Read More

Cop Pulled Over Defendant Because He Was Black, No Reasonable Suspicion

State v. Nyema Appellate Docket No.: A-0891-18T4 Decided November 5, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a published opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey overturned a denial of a motion to suppress when an officer investigating a robbery pulled over the defendant because three black males were in the car headed…

Read More