Category Archives: Criminal Defense
New Jersey Sports Gambling Case Could Affect “Criminality” Of Many Other Activities
On December 4th, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on New Jersey’s plea to remove criminal penalties for sports betting, and allow for it to be legalized at casinos and racetracks. According to reports, the Supreme Court appears to be siding with the state of New Jersey in this particular case. However, whether or… Read More »
New Study Explores Link Between Criminal Behavior & Brain Trauma
A new study out of Vanderbilt University and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on the link between violent crimes and brain trauma. The study specifically focused on people with brain tumors, brain bleeding, and/or a stroke and linking this to a sudden change in their behavior, late… Read More »
Legalizing Marijuana In New Jersey & Prosecuting Impaired Driving
We’ve previously discussed announcements made by incoming-governor Phil Murphy and his intentions to legalize marijuana in New Jersey. The law would permit the sale of marijuana to anyone 21 or older. However, there are some important things to keep in mind as the legalization debate intensifies this coming year, which we discuss in greater… Read More »
Aren’t Debtors’ Prisons Unconstitutional?
An important decision made by a New Orleans Parish Criminal District Court the week of December 15th highlights a problem all over the United States, whereby poor prisoners are charged fees that they are unable to pay in order to fund our courts. This leads to a vicious cycle, whereby indigent defendants are punished… Read More »
“On The Death Penalty, New Jersey Got It Right”
December marks the 10th anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in New Jersey. After the Appellate Division found the procedures by which capital punishment was being imposed in the state to be unconstitutional in 2004, the Death Penalty Study Commission—as created by the legislature—recommended its abolition. In its place followed life imprisonment… Read More »
Decriminalization Versus Legalization In New Jersey: What’s Coming
We’ve previously written about how close New Jersey is to not only decriminalizing marijuana, but potentially legalizing its recreational use. Come January, new political leadership in New Jersey is reportedly poised to move on legalization right away, making New Jersey the largest state in the East to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. While… Read More »
The New Push To Expand New York’s Childhood Sexual Assault Law
As recently reported by the New York Times, there is a new push to expand New York’s childhood sex assault law. Under the current law in New York, victims of childhood sexual abuse have until they reach the age of 21 to sue the facility where the sexual abuse occurred and age 23 to… Read More »
Police Use Of Drones: Are Your Privacy Rights Being Threatened?
When our founding fathers wrote the United States Constitution, subsequently amended by the states, it’s unlikely that they envisioned the technological advances we’ve seen over the last few hundred years. The Supreme Court has battled with interpretations of privacy in light of sophisticated new tools like heat seeking lamps and data storage. Now, we… Read More »
Defense Attorneys’ Protest Outside Of Brooklyn Courthouse Highlights Flaws In Immigration & Criminal Justice Overlap
On November 28th, nearly 100 New York criminal defense attorneys organized a protest, making a statement against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, who arrested one of their clients on an immigration charge at the Brooklyn courthouse. For defense attorneys committed to representing their clients, every courthouse represents a safe haven that is… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Could Dismantle Digital Privacy Protection Under Fourth Amendment
On November 29th, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on a case that will be monumental for determining how the Fourth Amendment protects cell phone data, or digital privacy. The case, Carpenter vs. United States, specifically poses whether the warrantless seizure and search of historical cellphone records—which reveal the location and movements of a… Read More »
