NJ Appellate Law Blog

To Begin the New Term, Two by Chief Judge Sumners

The first two published opinions of the Appellate Division in the 2024-25 Term are by Chief Judge Sumners. Both are Family Part matters. State in the Interest of M.P.,...

Returning From the Break- Appellate Division Opinions

During this blog's early August break, the Appellate Division issued three published opinions. Here are summaries: T.B. v. I.W., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2024). This was an appeal...

Yesterday and Today

The final two days of July saw one Supreme Court opinion and two published opinions by the Appellate Division. Here are summaries: New Jersey Division of Child Protection & Permanency...

Two Megan's Law Decisions by the Supreme Court

In the Matter of Registrant R.H., 258 N.J. 1 (2024); In the Matter of Registrant J.A., 258 N.J. 22 (2024). These decisions, both unanimous, were issued yesterday. Chief Justice Rabner...

Restraints Imposed in a Title 30 Action for Care and Supervision of Children Must End if the Case is Dismissed

New Jersey Division of Child Protection & Permanency v. J.C., 257 N.J. 451 (2024). Justice Solomon's unanimous opinion for the Supreme Court today posed the question before the Court this...

This Week in the Supreme Court

It's the time of year when the Supreme Court gets into a higher gear when it comes to issuing opinions. The Court released three decisions this week, all of them...

The Second Half of April

In the second half of April, the Supreme Court issued one published opinion and the Appellate Division delivered four such rulings. Here are summaries: C.R. v. M.T., 248 N.J. 428...

To Start the Week, A Catch-Up Post

While the Supreme Court has been quiet since it handed down this decision, the Appellate Division has issued six published opinions during the recent period. Here are summaries of those...

Another Short Week, and Another Catch-Up Post

In the past two weeks, an Appellate Division brief and a Supreme Court petition consumed much time. So, in this shortened Thanksgiving week, it's time to catch up on the...

A Trove of New Appeals for the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court announced that it has granted review in six new appeals. In two of them, the Court granted leave to appeal. The other two involved grants of certification....

123 4…Last

A Short Week Last Week, With Two Published Appellate Division Decisions

Last Friday was Juneteenth, and courts were closed, making it a short week. During that week, there were no Supreme Court opinions issued, but the Appellate Division published decisions in two matters, one of which encompassed fourteen cases. Here are summaries:...

The Week That Was: Two Supreme Court Opinions and One Published Appellate Division Decision

This week saw two Supreme Court opinions and one published Appellate Division decision. Here are summaries:...

A Bonanza: Five New Appeals for the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court announced that it has granted certification in five new appeals. Two of those are from published opinions of the Appellate Division, while the other three bring up unpublished rulings by that court....

Invocations Before Meetings of Public Bodies: An Anniversary

In 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States decided Town of Greece v. Galloway, 572 U.S. 565 (2014). There, the Court held, by a 5-4 vote, that opening a monthly town board meeting with a prayer delivered by a local clergy member did not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. In 1981, the Supreme Court of New Jersey had issued a unanimous decision, Marsa v. Wernik, 86 N.J. 232 (1981), holding that the Borough of Metuchen's practice of opening its Borough Council meetings with an invocation selected and delivered by a council member likewise did not violate the Establishment Clause. That ruling foreshadowed, to some extent, that of Greece. The date of the Marsa decision was June 8, 1981, 45 years ago today....