NJ Appellate Law Blog – NJ Appellate Lawyer Bruce D. Greenberg blogs about Appeals and Appellate Law Practice

The 2020-21 General Assignment Order

Chief Justice Rabner has issued the General Assignment Order for 2020-21, which is available here. Judge Ostrer has replaced Judge Koblitz, who will be retiring, as Presiding Judge of Part...

Appellate Division Procedures to Expedite Appeals From Denial of Medical Furlough Applications by Inmates

As discussed here, the Supreme Court recently added due process protections to Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 124, which created a mechanism to identify persons held in state prisons or...

Back in Action

The appellate courts have not been idle since the most recent post on this blog. Opinions have been issued, the Supreme Court has taken up more cases for review, and...

"In the Good Old Summertime"- Appellate Division Summer Parts

Chief Justice Rabner has announced the lineup of Appellate Division Parts for the coming summer. The schedule consists of six 14-day "Sessions," beginning on June 15 and ending on September...

2020 Law Graduates May Practice Immediately, as July Bar Exam is Cancelled, But Graduates Still Must be Certified by the Committee on Character in Order to Practice

As announced by Chief Justice Rabner here, the July Bar examination has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation. But that situation, the Supreme Court has concluded, after consulting with...

Next Week's Appellate Division Arguments Will be Conducted Telephonically

As stated here, oral arguments in the Appellate Division through April 2 will be conducted telephonically. Parts A, C, D, and G are the Parts that have oral arguments scheduled...

Judges Gummer and Smith Will be Temporarily Assigned to the Appellate Division as of September 1

Chief Justice Rabner announced the temporary assignment of two judges to the Appellate Division. The two judges, Katie Gummer and Morris Smith, will begin their temporary assignments on September 1,...

Byrne (Third Circuit Philadelphia) Courthouse is Closed Until March 30

The Third Circuit announced today that the James A. Byrne Courthouse in Philadelphia, where the Third Circuit, usually sits, will be closed until Monday, March 30, when it is scheduled...

This Week's Appellate Division Arguments Will be Conducted Telephonically

As stated here, all Appellate Division oral arguments through March 27 will be conducted telephonically rather than in person. There is no indication yet as to whether that will continue...

Third Circuit Will Continue to Hear Oral Arguments Despite Coronavirus

The Third Circuit announced today that it "is open for business and will fulfill its constitutional and statutory obligations and responsibilities." Oral arguments will continue as scheduled, but merits panels...

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The Week Just Ending: Three Criminal Law Decisions

This week saw one case decided by the Supreme Court and two published opinions of the Appellate Division. The Supreme Court case, decided by a 6-1 vote, presented an ex post facto issue arising out of amendments to the statute governing parole. The two Appellate Division decisions entailed more "core" criminal law issues. Here are summaries of those cases:...

The 2025 Omnibus Court Rule Amendments and Other Changes

The Supreme Court announced amendments to Court Rules and appendices, as well as certain other procedural changes. That announcement is embodied in an Omnibus Rule Amendment Order that is available here....

"Abuse of Discretion" vs. "Patent and Gross Abuse of Discretion"

State v. Taylor, ___ N.J. ___ (2025). N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6(c), a part of the Graves Act, makes the use or possession of a firearm during the commission, attempted commission, or flight from the commission of certain designated offenses a sentencing factor that triggers the imposition of a mandatory term of imprisonment. A later-added section of the Graves Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.2, creates an "escape valve," under which a prosecutor may seek from the court a waiver of the imposition of a mandatory minimum sentence where the prosecutor believes that such a sentence would not serve the interest of justice....

A "Swan Song" for a False Light Invasion of Privacy Claim on Statute of Limitations Grounds

Chipola v. Flannery, ___ N.J. ___ (2025). As discussed here, this case was one of two that the Supreme Court agreed to review in its first grants of review of the current Term. The question presented was "Does a claim alleging false light invasion of privacy have a one-year statute of limitations, see Swan v. Boardwalk Regency Corp., 407 N.J. Super. 108 (App. Div 2009)?" Today, agreeing with the Law Division and the Appellate Division, the Supreme Court answered "yes."...