Lawsuit Challenges Essex County Prosecutor's Refusal to Disclose Police Videos and Name of Newark Officer Who Fatally Shot Fleeing Motorist
Last week, CJ Griffin filed an OPRA lawsuit on behalf of Richard Rivera against the Essex County Prosecutor's Office (ECPO) relating to its refusal to disclose the name of a Newark police officer who shot at a fleeing vehicle during a pursuit in January 2019, killing the driver and injuring the passenger. The lawsuit also seeks access to footage from police body-worn cameras and dash cameras.… Read more
Mueller Report Contains Devastating Evidence of Obstruction of Justice by Trump
Put aside the unprofessional and unethical summary of the Mueller Report by Attorney General Barr almost two weeks ago because it is a distraction. Put aside the outright lies by Donald Trump that he was exonerated by the Mueller Report because it's a distraction. And let's have the self-discipline to put aside the pathetic attempt by Attorney General Barr to do a Roy Cohn imitation yesterday and mount a defense of Donald Trump.… Read more
The Legal Implications of Governmental Social Media Use
Approximately 77 percent of Americans have profiles on social networking sites and two-thirds of Americans say they get at least some of their news on social media. Thus, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be powerful and effective tools for government agencies that want to provide information directly to the public about their services, emergencies, or community events.… Read more
Cannabis Banking Bill Advances in Congress
Yesterday the House Financial Services Committee voted 45-15 (with significant bi-partisan support) to advance the SAFE (Secure and Fair Enforcement) Banking Act for a vote before the full House of Representatives, which, if enacted, will enable banks and insurance companies to service state-legal cannabis businesses.… Read more
Employment Discrimination against Medical Marijuana User?
As the NJ legislature continues to debate the legalization of adult use marijuana, the NJ Appellate Division has issued an important decision addressing a controversial topic – the right of employers to discipline employees who use marijuana outside of work.… Read more
A Tale of Two States
Within the last 24 hours, hopes for the passage of legislation to legalize adult use cannabis have soared in New Jersey and soured in New York.… Read more
Lottery Winners Shouldn't Be Anonymous
A new bill pending in the Senate, S-2267, directs the State Lottery Commission to amend its regulations so that the identities lottery winners are not accessible under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The bill offers the winners of the lottery lifetime anonymity.… Read more
It's Sunshine Week!
This week is Sunshine Week, a week dedicated to promoting openness in government! In honor of Sunshine Week, we're sharing the following resources which will help you shine a light on the government.… Read more
The Devil's in the Details in Attorney Disciplinary Cases
A lawyer who takes funds with some reasonable belief of entitlement may be presented as a lesser threat to the profession and the public.… Read more