Under the New Jersey Constitution, everyone but defendants in death penalty cases have the right to release from jail on bail. Governor Christie has proposed that the Constitution be amended so that New Jersey judges can impose detention without bail for repeat violent offenders. Judges in federal courts already have the ability to do this, [...]
Understanding the “CSI Effect”
February 17, 2012 By
Anyone who has ever had their fate in the hands of a jury knows how important jury expectations are, and how nebulous and unpredictable they can be. But that goes not just for what a jury expects to happen in a given situation, and what they feel is reasonable in the situation of the alleged [...]
The Way Smartphones Have Changed Litigation
February 17, 2012 By
Nowadays, many people have a smart phone. Reportedly, 85% of Americans have a cell phone, and 45% of those cell phones are smartphones, mostly iphones and androids. This change has altered the way we interact in the world, has granted easy access to information and communication, but has it also changed the legal system? Cell [...]
Document Preparation Options
February 17, 2012 By
Whether you need to draft a will, adoption paperwork, or a complaint for court, you may be wondering whether you have to hire an attorney to do the job. Aren’t attorneys expensive, and is it possible to do this work yourself or by hiring a legal document preparer or paralegal? Legal document preparer companies cannot [...]
What Does New Jersey’s No Child Left Behind Waiver Mean for the State?
February 14, 2012 By
Last week, President Obama announced that 9 states, including New Jersey, would be granted a waiver from compliance with the education law No Child Left Behind. What does this waiver mean for New Jersey? Along with Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, the Garden State has been given permission to fail [...]
Jury Nullification
February 14, 2012 By
Jury nullification is the act of making a law void by jury decision. Even if the weight of the evidence is against a criminal in his case, the jury can effectively renounce the law and acquit the defendant by finding him or her not guilty. A guilty individual can legally go free in such a [...]
NJ Eliminates Permit Requirement for Home Brewing
February 10, 2012 By
As limitations on brewing and selling of alcohol have lessened or been eliminated over the years, craft brews and local wineries have developed and spread in popularity. Most craft beer begins at home as home brews. In New Jersey, you now no longer need a permit to brew beer or wine at home. Until the [...]
Appealing Your Property Taxes
February 10, 2012 By
New Jersey has some of the highest property tax rates in the nation. While other states may charge $1,000-$2,000 for the average 3-bedroom home, in New Jersey those rates are easily three times higher. This expense prohibits many New Jersey residents from obtaining the home they desire or need. But is there anything you can [...]
Law School Grads Can’t Find Jobs, Sue Schools
February 8, 2012 By
Years ago, it was reported that a team of plaintiffs and their lawyers were going to sue New York Law School and Thomas M. Cooley School of Law over their reported job statistics. Now, the same plaintiffs are bringing suit against an additional group of schools. So what is their claim, and what schools are [...]
New Jersey Eliminates Permit Requirement for Home Brewing
February 8, 2012 By
As limitations on brewing and selling of alcohol have lessened or been eliminated over the years, craft brews and local wineries have developed and spread in popularity. Most craft beer begins at home as home brews. In New Jersey, you now no longer need a permit to brew beer or wine at home. Until the [...]
