Category Archives: Criminal Defense
U.S. Supreme Court Expresses Interest in Addressing New Jersey Laws Criminalizing Certain Gun Activities
Last year, New Jersey took a number of measures to implement some of the nation’s strictest gun control laws, criminalizing a broad array of activities involving guns, such as making it illegal for residents to have a carry permit unless they first demonstrated a “justifiable need”; amongst other activities. Now, a number of gun… Read More »
As Religious Attacks Increase In New York, More and More Are Considered Hate Crimes
The act of a New York synagogue being vandalized on February 16 is officially being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crimes Division as a hate crime. According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, violence committed against Jewish groups is on the rise throughout the state, and there have been close to 50 of these crimes… Read More »
New Jersey Moves Closer To Decriminalizing Medically Assisted Suicide
In New Jersey, lawmakers are considering decriminalizing euthanasia for terminally ill patients. While similar legislation has previously been proposed and previously stalled in the Senate, in February, a Senate committee voted to approve this latest “medically assisted suicide bill” and many now expect it to pass in the full chamber. While a number of… Read More »
Would This New York Bill Make It A Crime Not To Vaccinate Your Children?
A new bill proposed by New York lawmakers would undo New Yorkers’ right to cite to non-medical exemptions from vaccination requirements for children– including an exemption due to religious beliefs–essentially making it a crime for children not to receive certain required vaccinations, even if their religion does not allow them to do so. The… Read More »
New Gun Control Laws in New York
In late January, New York State Legislators expect to pass eight new gun-control bills that would allow people to seek court orders to ban “dangerous” individuals from owning guns, bar schools from allowing teachers to be armed, ban bump stocks, and extend waiting periods for relevant background checks. This is the first set of… Read More »
The “Gay and Transgender Panic Defense” Could Be On Its Way out Across the Nation
Although laws have been proposed in the states of New York and New Jersey to render the defense unavailable, the “gay and transgender panic defense” has long been available in most-all states, allowing criminal defendants who had allegedly engaged in assault or murder to have their charges downgraded to manslaughter, negligent homicide, or a… Read More »
New York’s Criminal Laws Surrounding Abortion & the History of Fixing Them
The New Yorker recently published an interesting piece on how the new abortion law in New York—the Reproductive Health Act—will change things regarding what is and is not considered to be a crime when it comes to women’s reproductive rights, and what it won’t do. While abortion was legalized in New York in 1970,… Read More »
Legislation Introduced In New Jersey That Will Affect Criminal Prosecutions
Below, we discuss various proposals and new laws in New Jersey and New York that could significantly affect the prosecution of certain crimes: Preparations for Legalizing Recreational Use of Marijuana in New Jersey According to New Jersey Attorney General Grewal, New Jersey is close to legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, perhaps as early… Read More »
Judge Rules That New York City’s Airbnb Laws Violate Fourth Amendment
New York City has, for years, viewed Airbnb rentals as a hotbed of illegal activity and tried to ban and/or heavily regulate and restrict this rental activity. A law was passed in July 2018, and designed to go into effect in February 2019, which would have required that Airbnb and similar vendors provide New… Read More »
Federal Legislation Expanding Domestic Violence Criminal Provisions Signed Into Law
In late December, legislation adjusting and expanding what is considered to be “stalking” under the federal criminal code was signed into law in an effort to better protect domestic violence victims and their pets. Specifically, the “PAWS Act” not only expands what is covered under the law and protection orders, but it also establishes… Read More »
