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 the Appellate Division has entered an Order about scheduling in light of the Covid-19 situation. Here are some summaries: The Supreme Court issued these opinions, the most recent of which (listed first below) was announced this morning: Barla v. Cliffside Park Bd. of Educ., ___ N.J. ___ (2020). At issue, on cross-motions for summary judgment, was the effect of a 2015 collective bargaining agreement that reduced a cap on...

As Judge Fasciale’s majority opinion in this case today states, “[i]n 1973, Sundiata Acoli murdered State Trooper Werner Foerster and assaulted State Trooper James Harper.” A jury found him guilty of murder, atrocious assault and battery, armed robbery, and other crimes. He was given a sentence that amounted to life plus 24-30 years. When Acoli became eligible for parole, the Parole Board conducted a “paper hearing” and denied parole. Acoli appealed, and the case went to the Supreme Court. In Acoli v. New Jersey State Parole Bd., 224 N.J. 213 (2016), the Court...

Chief Justice Rabner has issued the general Assignment Order for 2019-2020. It is available here. As occurs every year, the eight Appellate Division Parts have been reshuffled. But some things remain the same. Judge Messano continues as Presiding Judge for Administration, and Judge Sabatino as Deputy Presiding Judge for Administration. Those two judges, as well as Judges Koblitz, Alvarez, Fisher, Yannotti, and Fuentes remain as Presiding Judges of their respective Parts. Judge Fasciale has become the Presiding Judge of Part B, a position previously held by Judge Simonelli. There are two...