Steven J. Richardson | June 26, 2009
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts ruled in a close, 5-4, decision that laboratory reports related to the testing of drugs at a police laboratory are to be considered as testimonial evidence within the meaning of the Sixth Amendment. In effect, this means that a criminal defendant has the right at trial [...]
Steven J. Richardson | June 26, 2009
The Bill of Rights to the Constitution provides many protections to citizens regarding their person, property, and privacy. Most famous are the Fifth Amendment Right Against Self Incrimination and the Fourth Amendment Rights Against Unlawful Search and Seizure. However, many people do not realize how limited these rights can be to that person; another person [...]
Steven J. Richardson | June 15, 2009
On June 4, 2009, a committee of the New Jersey State Assembly approved a bill called the New Jersey Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which aims to protect New Jerseyans from creditor harassment. The Senate has a similar bill. On the one hand, it is great that our legislature is looking out for us, but [...]
Steven J. Richardson | June 11, 2009
In New Jersey, points assigned against your license can cause problems, like increased auto insurance premiums or the suspension of your license if you get too many of them. That is why people try to avoid them. Prior to 2000, drivers given traffic tickets that could result in the assessment of points, speeding, for example, [...]