Category Archives: Criminal Defense
New Jersey Police Crack Down On Underage Drinking
New Jersey police have re-launched the “Cops in the Shops” program, partnering with local alcohol retailers to put undercover officers inside the stores and crack down on underage alcohol sales. The partnership’s goals are to charge adults who buy alcohol for those who are underage and crack down on anyone attempting to use a… Read More »
Public Corruption Charges against New Jersey and New York Officials
The case against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey made headlines recently as attorneys asked a federal court to dismiss political corruption charges against him. The Senator’s attorneys argue that a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court decision—as well as recent decisions—narrow the scope of the federal bribery statute such that he should not be… Read More »
Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants with Prior Offenses Who Worked At Ground Zero
Several New York legislators are working to not only legalize undocumented workers who worked on the rescue, cleanup, and recovery efforts during the aftermath of 9/11, but who also have recently been placed in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities for drug and nonviolent offenses committed long ago—as far back as the… Read More »
Campus Criminal Rape Policies & Investigations Draw Concern
New Education Secretary Betsy DeVos met with women who have been the victims of sexual assault, as well as the accused, and their families, on July 13th in an effort to re-examine the recent campus sexual assault policies of the Obama administration. Specifically, some are concerned that these policies may be significantly violating the… Read More »
Sanctuary Cities Defend Themselves to the Justice Department
Certain cities and jurisdictions (including New York) labeled “sanctuary” cities have been accused by the Trump administration of violating federal immigration statutes and interfering with the federal government’s initiative in removing “criminal” illegal immigrants from the country. As a result, the Justice Department has warned these cities, counties, and states that they risked losing… Read More »
Jury or Judge?
As highlighted by a recent article in Staten Island Real-Time News, criminal defendants who go to trial usually have to choose between being judged by a jury of their peers or by a judge. Most rightfully choose a jury of their peers, as the collective wisdom of 12 individuals randomly selected from the population… Read More »
New Jersey Couples Accused Of Welfare Fraud
On June 28th, 14 people were arrested in New Jersey and charged with public-assistance fraud in connection with federal and state raids that are allegedly linked to approximately $2 million. According to the prosecutor’s office, those accused wrongfully collected hundreds of thousands in Medicaid, nutrition assistance, Social Security, utilities assistance, federal housing funds, Sandy… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Case on Legalization of Sports Betting In New Jersey
On June 27th, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear the state of New Jersey’s appeal to legalize sports betting even though the U.S. Solicitor General recommended against it. The state has been fighting the battle to legalize sports betting in casinos and at racetracks for the last five years while being… Read More »
Court Finds Mindset & Intention Irrelevant In Wildlife Crimes
On June 21, a federal court found the Justice Department’s longstanding policy of deciding under what circumstances it would prosecute individuals who killed animals protected under the Endangered Species Act to be outside the range of prosecutorial authority. At issue in the case was a policy known as the “McKittrick Policy,” originally stemming from… Read More »
What Is a Mistrial, and How Does It Relate To Double Jeopardy?
Many of us have tuned into Bill Cosby’s trial this last month, which recently ended in a hung jury (mistrial). Specifically, the jury deliberated for 52 hours before a mistrial was declared because they were deadlocked. Cosby is currently free on bail, but also appears to be awaiting a retrial of the criminal case,… Read More »