Governor Murphy’s nomination of Justice Fernandez-Vina for tenure on the Supreme Court until age 70 got a unanimous endorsement from the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday. Senators had only positive things to say about him. The full Senate is expected to vote on tenure on Thursday, October 29. If confirmed, Justice Fernandez-Vina, now 68, could serve until February 2022, when he will turn 70. Justice Fernandez-Vina has been a solid member of the Court since his appointment by Governor Christie in 2013. His written opinions are clear and as concise as they can be, given the...

Zahl v. Eastland, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2020). [Disclosure: I have represented the defendants in this matter.] Judge Messano’s opinion for the Appellate Division in this case today is the second time that this case came before the Appellate Division. As discussed here, the prior opinion reversed a seven-figure default judgment against defendants, a Mississippi attorney and his law firm, and remanded the case for further proceedings, including as to whether New Jersey state courts had personal jurisdiction over any of the defendants. Today’s opinion addresses an important...

In re Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive Nos. 2020-5 and 2020-6, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2020). Here is how Judge Accurso began her opinion for the Appellate Division in this important case: “Responding to state and national demands for accountability and reform of law enforcement following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced in June that he would end New Jersey’s decades-long practice of shielding the identities of law enforcement officers receiving major discipline for misconduct. Determining...