The New Jersey Supreme Court decided State v. Joe on March 7, 2017. The case is significant because it relates to the issue of jail credit, which is an important issue in any case where the sentence includes the imposition of a custodial term. Briefly, the two types of credit…
Megan’s Law provides that registrants who have not re-offended within 15 years of their conviction or release from custody, whichever is later, and are unlikely to pose a safety threat to others, can be relieved of their registration and reporting obligations. Given the burdens of Megan’s Law and the restrictions…
In State v. Bacome, decided January 31, 2017, two Woodbridge detectives observed the defendant-driver and a passenger in a Ford Bronco. The passenger, who was in the front seat, was later identified as the vehicle’s owner. The detectives claimed that both men were known drug dealers. They followed the Bronco…
Dylann Roof, who infamously shot and killed nine African-Americans engaged in bible study at a Charleston, South Carolina church, chose to represent himself during the sentencing phase of his federal capital trial. During his “presentation”, he informed the jury that there was nothing wrong with him psychologically and also stated,…
While investigating a noise complaint at an apartment complex, an officer observed James Legette standing on a common porch. The officer approached and Legette partially opened a door leading into his area. The officer then smelled burnt marijuana, entered the porch area, and identified himself as an officer. As Legette…
I have never believed that most lawyers or judges take juvenile delinquency cases seriously. Many of them frequently refer to these matters as “kiddie crime”. Indeed, it is not unusual for a judge who has sat in an adult criminal trial court to feel offended as a result of being…
Arnett Blake, his girlfriend Cindy Edwards, and his former girlfriend Terri Hannah, all attended a party in Vineland, New Jersey. At some point, Edwards encountered Hannah in the bathroom. While there, Hannah allegedly made rude remarks about Edwards. Hannah then left the bathroom and told Blake that she should “F___…
June Gorthy met a mental health therapist at a conference in 1998, and then tried to commence a relationship with him. The therapist rejected her many overtures, which were expressed repeatedly in numerous gifts, letters and telephone messages. Gorthy then left her home in Colorado, drove to New Jersey, repeatedly…
Earlier this week, I was in the Chancery Division, Family Part for a hearing on one of my juvenile delinquency matters. While waiting to be called, I listened to the colloquy in the cases being heard before mine. Virtually every case included some discussion involving texting or social media. In…
One of the most frustrating aspects of prison life concerns inmate efforts to enroll in classes and programs offered within the prison system. Virtually every prison system offers inmate programs that are designed to train inmates for re-entry into society. These programs, which are designed to address many of the…