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Most states do not offer the right to trial by jury for minor traffic violations such as speeding or running a red light/stop sign. Instead, if you choose to contest a traffic ticket, your case will be decided by a judge rather than a jury in a process known as a “bench trial.” If you’ve received a traffic ticket, you should familiarize yourself with what you might expect in traffic court. Differences Between Traffic Court...

The Conscientious Employee Protection Act, or CEPA, is New Jersey’s employee whistleblower protection law. CEPA protects New Jersey employees who engage in whistleblowing activity from retaliation by their employers, including being fired, demoted, passed over for promotion, given undesirable assignments, or harassed. Whistleblowing activity under CEPA includes objecting to something in the workplace that the employee reasonably believes violates the law or public policy. What Kinds of Actions Does CEPA Protect from Retaliation?...

Having a DWI charge on your record can negatively affect many different areas of your life. A DWI can lead to jail time, probation, expensive fines, and even a permanent record that can impact your career and living options. Fortunately, if you are facing DWI charges in New Jersey, there may be options available to contest. What Does It Mean to Contest Charges? Contesting charges means that you are opposing them. It means that you...

A new expungement reform law (P.L. 2019, c.269), signed into law on December 18, 2019, takes effect today. Perhaps most importantly, the new law extends eligibility to many who previously were not eligible. Previously, an expungement applicant generally would be ineligible if convicted of distribution and possession with intent to distribute involving marijuana where the quantity was over 25 grams, or involving hashish where the quantity was over 5 grams; or for distributing or possession...

Many employees often have questions about their legal rights. They might wonder when, and for what reasons, they can be terminated from their current job. If they are terminated, they might wonder whether or not it was legal to do so. Many states follow at-will employment laws, which means in most cases, an employer can terminate an employee without reason. What Does At-Will Employment Mean? An at-will employment state essentially means that an employer can...

Employment discrimination encompasses a wide variety of different aspects. When an individual is treated differently or less favorably for any reason, discrimination in the workplace has taken place. Under laws enforced by the EEOC, there are worker protections that assist workers who have fallen victim to unfair treatment, harassment, denial of a reasonable workplace change, and many other factors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, workers have also faced discrimination in the workplace, a level of discrimination...

The state of New Jersey has been one of the strictest in terms of its stay at home orders during the global pandemic. Individuals who do not follow these orders will risk criminal charges, ranging from a warning to required jail time. Understanding New Jersey’s Stay-At-Home Rules New Jersey officers all over the state have been instructed to regulate the state’s stay-at-home orders. Some cities, like Newark, even have their own police task force to...

On April 14, 2020, Governor Murphy signed into law (Bill A3903) that allows remote notarial acts during Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020. This should be of assistance when it comes to, among other things, executing wills and closing on real estate transactions. This allows notaries public and officers authorized to take oaths, affirmations, and affidavits to take acknowledgements from an individual remotely through the...

Civil Service Employees are dramatically affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Guidelines for State Employee Leave Time and Staffing have been posted on the Civil Service Commission website located at the following link: https://www.state.nj.us/csc/employees/covid.html. The current Civil Service Commission Guidelines as published are separated into several subsections. The first subsection allows for implementation of flextime programs, alternative workweek programs, and adjusted daily or shift hours upon approval of the Civil Service Commission Chair or designee. This...

The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses. Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards. For a top-line overview of the program click HERE If you’re...