New Jersey Juror Summons, Questionnaire, and Penalties

Jury Duty Blues

Ordinarily adults consider jury service inconvenient. After all, it requires jurors to lay other plans aside, and it interrupts everyday life. For many people, jury service lasts a day. But for other people it lasts several weeks. Despite the inconveniences, New Jersey law makes jury service a top priority. And the law gives our courts the power to make an incompliant juror’s life even more inconvenient through juror penalties.
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The Six Requirements for Jury Duty in New Jersey

Can anyone serve on a jury in New Jersey?

You might feel you saw all of mankind the last time you appeared for jury duty in New Jersey. For example, did you see individuals who reaffirmed your belief in Darwin’s theory of evolution?

The court’s parking facility might have seemed congested with vehicles. For instance, did you question the credentials of the architects who designed the garage?

Invariably, all the seats in the Juror Assembly Room probably appeared occupied. To illustrate, did you share those quarters with an individual who ignored society’s expectations of personal hygiene?
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New Jersey Juror Questionnaire

It Might Seem Intrusive, But This Questionnaire Is Not Junk Mail!

How would you feel to…

Receive a questionnaire in the mail?
Realize it is from the government?
Find out it is mandatory?

Would your feeling change if this questionnaire were your ticket to get out of jury service? Indeed, any New Jersey citizen on the juror source list could receive the jury duty questionnaire. Sent by the Assignment Judge of each county, the answers enable our courts to determine whether: Read more

How the New Jersey Judiciary Summons Jurors

Who Is Responsible For Summoning Jurors?

The Assignment Judge of the vicinage is responsible for summoning jurors.

What is a vicinage?

The Superior Courts of New Jersey have limited authority. In addition to personal jurisdiction, another limitation relates to geography.

The territory where a Superior Court exercises authority is a vicinage. Consequently, eleven New Jersey vicinages share their boundary with their county. For example, Vicinage 4 and Camden County share the same borders. Additionally, four vicinages comprise more than one county. For example, Vicinage 15 includes the Counties of Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem. Read more

Standing—Getting Your Client His Day in Court

Standing

This entry will explain New Jersey and Federal law as each relates to suppression motion standing.

First, this will set forth the general standards under state law.

Next, this will explain standing under federal law.

Finally, this will define the particular categories for standing under state law. Read more

Emancipation Proclamation Signed By Pres. Lincoln Dateline Jan. 1, 1863

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Intended to free the slaves in States and political entities in rebellion against the United States, the Emancipation Proclamation applied only to: Arkansas; Texas; Louisiana, except certain Parishes; Mississippi; Alabama; Florida; Georgia; South Carolina; North Carolina; and Virginia, except certain counties. Predating the Reconstruction Amendments, the Emancipation Proclamation did not apply to Missouri, Maryland, Kentucky, and Delaware. Although these states condoned slavery, they were not then in rebellion against the United States. Likewise, it did not apply to Tennessee. Read more

Gun Control v. The Second Amendment

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. U.S. Const. amend. II.

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GUNS REDUCE CRIME from Intelligence Squared U.S. on Vimeo

Dedication

Based on recent tragic events in America involving gun violence, I dedicate this post to the memory of the fallen. This is also dedicated in honor of the survivors within their families and communities, and all other mourners. Additionally, I dedicate this to those who sacrificed to secure our legal rights in America. Read more

John Roberts, CJ, SCOTUS, on Magna Carta

Magna Carta, a speech by

Mental Illness and Criminal Justice

Mood and Psychotic Disorders

The October 2013 ABA Journal reported a history of mental illness among 61% of premeditated murderers.

Based on research by Robert Hanlon, however, 34% of impulsive murderers have a history of mood and psychotic disorders.

Therefore, these disorders were twice as common among premeditated murderers as compared to impulsive murderers. Read more

Impersonating a Police Officer, N.J.S.A. 2c:28-8

How does 18 months in a New Jersey State Prison sound? If you had $10,000 to spare, would you give to the government? Certainly you can think of better ways to spend your time. And obviously you do not want to donate more of your hard earned money to the government than the taxes it already takes from you. Those are only two of many penalties you could face if you were charged with impersonating a police officer. Authorities in Jackson, NJ charged a motorist with this offense, per the news. The charge stemmed from a car stop five days earlier. Read More

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