Christian R. Martinez Quoted in NJ Spotlight News, “Supreme Court Rules for Students with Disabilities”
Christian R. Martinez, associate in the firm’s Litigation, Appellate Advocacy, and Securities Regulatory Enforcement & Litigation practices, was recently quoted in an NJ Spotlight News article titled, “NJ Supreme Court Rules for Students with Disabilities.” The article discusses a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision ruling that New Jersey students with disabilities are entitled to a free public education even after they earn a state-issued diploma. The ruling makes it clear that students with disabilities can reenroll in their local school district after passing the GED and earning a state-issued diploma, which could give them access to transition services meant to prepare them for life after high school for an extended period.
“For students with disabilities within the state, their receipt of a state-issued diploma does not terminate the state’s obligation to provide them with a free, appropriate public education,” said Christian R. Martinez, who argued the cause for Disability Rights New Jersey, a friend of the court in the case.
Martinez said the impact of this ruling is broader than just one student, bringing justice to A.D. and past and future students with disabilities who have earned a state-issued diploma.
“This was a just resolution,” Martinez said. “It makes the state more equitable, ensuring that students similar to A.D. in the future have the right to go back to high school.”
To read the full NJ Spotlight News article, click here.
