The decriminalization of marijuana in New Jersey took two significant steps forward as the Governor signed legislation which significantly liberalizes cannabis law and the Attorney General issued a directive to prosecutors to dismiss certain categories of marijuana offenses. On Tuesday, Governor Phil Murphy signed the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act … Read More

In the corridors of Wall Street and at water coolers of large hedge funds you may hear the words “dumb money,“ a reference to money invested by the average retail customer. The hard-earned savings of middle class Americans invested with the hope of growth for retirement, college and the like. These dollars generally flow through … Read More

For many following the market, whether as regular investors, traders or enforcers, what is happening now with Gamestop trading is reminiscent of watching the OJ Simpson car chase from live-stream cameras above a highway in California. Something dramatic will happen but no one can say what or how. Hedge funds and Wall Street Institutions have … Read More

Federal Courts The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has lifted its stay on the empanelment of new grand juries in all three vicinages of New Jersey, and new grand juries are anticipated to begin convening this fall. The stay on criminal jury trials and trial jury empanelment has been continued through … Read More

In light of the national emergency due to the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), courts and law enforcement agencies at every level of Government have taken extraordinary actions: STATE OF NEW JERSEY ● The Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court has entered the Court’s Fifth Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice. The … Read More

In light of the national emergency due to the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), courts and law enforcement agencies at every level of Government have taken extraordinary actions: FEDERAL ● The District of New Jersey is extending the stay of in-person appearances in criminal cases until late September. Chief Judge Freda Wolfson entered Standing Order 20-06, … Read More

The Attorney General of New Jersey, Gurbir Grewal, has issued a new Directive (#2020- 5) for all state and local law enforcement agencies to begin to identify law enforcement officers (“LEOs”) who are disciplined for serious misconduct. From now on, all LEOs who are terminated, reduced in rank, or suspended for more than 5 days … Read More

The Supreme Court of New Jersey has approved a plan to resume in-person court operations beginning June 22, as the Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”) enters “Phase 2” of its COVID response plan. The following criminal matters “may” resume in-person appearances beginning June 22:  Completion of suspended jury trials (5 such trials statewide), with … Read More

This is a time that millions of Americans are righteously speaking out against our greatly flawed system of “criminal justice” (among other things) most recently evidenced by the horrific killing of George Floyd. Most thoughtful Americans recognize that systemic racisms stains nearly the whole fabric of our culture, but it is perhaps nowhere more obvious … Read More

Federal and New Jersey State Courts are reluctant to release prison inmates in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, citing what they deem to be adequate measures by prison authorities to protect inmates and to grant early release under existing programs. On June 4, the Supreme Court of New Jersey unanimously denied an application for … Read More