Following a 2018 decision from the Appellate Division, the Supreme Court of New Jersey has held that a criminal defendant can be compelled to disclose cell phone passcodes. On the facts of this case before the Court, Defendant Robert Andrews had been indicted In June 2016 for multiple offenses related to alleged drug trafficking in Newark, New Jersey. Andrews had previously … [Read more...] about NJ Supreme Court: Police Can Compel Suspects to Provide Smartphone Passcodes
Why You Should Always Hire Counsel to Draft Your Contracts
Leave the Contract Drafting to the Attorneys Nowhere is the old saw “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” truer than in the realm of contract drafting. As a commercial litigator, time and again I have seen companies spend millions on litigation because they failed to take the necessary steps years earlier to ensure that their contracts were properly drafted and … [Read more...] about Why You Should Always Hire Counsel to Draft Your Contracts
U.S. Court of Appeals: Fingerprint Evidence May be Insufficient
In a recent precedential opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit concluded that reliable fingerprint evidence, standing alone, may be insufficient to support a criminal conviction. The facts of the specific case were as follows. In 2003, the victim was opening the store where she worked in Pennsylvania when a masked man with a gun pushed his way inside and … [Read more...] about U.S. Court of Appeals: Fingerprint Evidence May be Insufficient
A New Jersey Appellate Attorney’s Guide to Appeals
No “Do-Overs,” But... Trial courts, like everyone, make mistakes. When that happens in New Jersey, you have the right to appeal your matter to the Appellate Division, which will review your case for the alleged mistakes. Your legal counsel, however, needs to preserve your arguments for appeal by raising them in a timely manner before the original trial court. The specific … [Read more...] about A New Jersey Appellate Attorney’s Guide to Appeals
Cannabis is Legal in New Jersey: Now What?
A truly historic Election Day full of notable events included the passage of a referendum measure in New Jersey which amends the State Constitution to legalize the use and sale of cannabis beyond the current medical marijuana regime in New Jersey. The vital next step in the process of creating a legal general-use marijuana sales framework in New jersey is the passage of … [Read more...] about Cannabis is Legal in New Jersey: Now What?