As expected, and deserved, the Senate voted yesterday to grant tenure to Justice Fernandez-Vina. The vote was 34-0. This extends the Justice’s service on the Court into February 2022, when he will turn 70. Congratulations, Justice...

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...

State v. Andrews, ___ N.J. ___ (2020). In a 4-3 decision that produced lengthy majority and dissenting opinions, the Supreme Court held that it does not violate a criminal defendant’s Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination or any New Jersey statutory or common law rights to compel the defendant to reveal the passcode to his cellphone. Justice Solomon wrote the majority opinion, in which Chief Justice Rabner and Justices Patterson and Fernandez-Vina joined. The dissent was by Justice LaVecchia, joined by Justices Albin and Timpone. The State had a concededly valid warrant...