More than 20 million people have uploaded DNA information to consumer websites such as Ancestry.com and 23andMe under the belief that these sites would keep the information private. However, police in Florida announced that they had been granted a warrant to search a DNA site for evidence related to an ongoing investigation, potentially setting aRead More
News
New Training Offers Prosecutors Ways Around New Bail Laws
New York State recently passed a series of powerful new laws reforming the bail and discovery process. Many district attorneys were dismayed at the rules, which take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. Critics, which include many police departments and DAs, argue the rules make it harder to bring suspects to justice. But a series of presentationsRead More
Sweeping Bail and Discovery Reform to Take Effect in NY Next Year
New York State lawmakers have passed a long-fought-for set of reforms to the criminal justice system. The sweeping package of laws, which take effect on Jan. 1, 2020, changes the courts’ system of bail and discovery and is part of an effort to ensure speedier and fairer trials. The changes include: The number of offensesRead More
Gov. Murphy Vetoes Marijuana Expungement Bill, But Offers Path Forward
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for some people with marijuana-related convictions to clear their record. On Friday, August 23, Murphy announced that he rejected the plan, saying that the process was still too complicated. However, he offered suggestions on the type of expungement legislation he wasRead More
Rosenblum Law Raises $1,260 During First-Ever “Charity Week”
From Sunday, June 23 through Sunday, June 30, the attorneys at Rosenblum Law raised $1,260 to benefit two charities during the company’s first-ever “Charity Week”. In addition to employees participating in various charity events, the company donated a portion of its legal fees earned during the week. The money will be split between two non-profits:Read More
U.S. Court: Giving Cops the Middle Finger is Protected Speech
A Michigan woman has been allowed to advance a lawsuit after a U.S. court ruled that giving a police officer the middle finger is a form of free speech. It’s not the first time “flipping the bird” has been debated by judges in the U.S. While this case certainly reaffirms one’s right to be rudeRead More
How Can I Make Sure That My Expunged Conviction Won’t Show Up In A Background Check?
Guest Post By: Gabriel Biello Getting one’s criminal record expunged is no easy process. Staying out of trouble, satisfying the required sentencing and fines, filling out the paperwork, etc. Now that the conviction has been expunged, that should be the end of it, right? In most cases, it is. But sometimes an expunged or sealed recordRead More
NYC Bans Hair-Based Employment Discrimination
Businesses operating in New York City must alter or eliminate dress codes or other policies that restrict employees based on natural or cultural hairstyles. In February 2019, the NYC Commission on Human Rights banned the practice of requiring staff to straighten, trim, or wear their hair in any other untreated hair style, such as locs,Read More
NJ Lawmakers Reach Deal on Marijuana Legalization, To Allow Immediate Expungements
After months of back-and-forth over marijuana legalization legislation, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and leaders in the NJ legislature claim to have reached a broad agreement. In a press release on March 12, 2019, the governor, alongside Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and others announced the text of a bill to legalizeRead More
When Can Police Enter Your Home (New Jersey)?
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits “unreasonable searches and seizures” by police and other government agencies. When police have a warrant, they can enter a person’s home without the homeowner’s consent, or even if he/she isn’t home (more on that later). However, there are many circumstances when an officer cannot enter a homeRead More