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On February 27, 2012, in State v. Harris (A-103-10), the New Jersey Supreme Court rendered a decision that may act to further limit those circumstances in which a criminal defendant chooses to testify.

We have all heard the news stories—“Director of Hoboken Parking Utility Pleads Guilty to Official Misconduct”; “Former Denville police officer pleads guilty to misconduct”; “The half-brother of Trenton Mayor Tony Mack has pleaded guilty to two counts of official misconduct”; and “Former Dover police dispatcher pleads guilty to official misconduct.” But, I bet you don’t know the serious consequences that accompany New Jersey’s Official Misconduct statute.

Demetrius Diaz-Bridges is accused of killing his friends’ mother, Elizabeth O’Brien, in 2008. Although the matter has not proceeded to trial, there has been pre-trial litigation for over 2 years surrounding a taped confession Diaz-Bridges gave to members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office (my former place of employment).

During the Holiday Season, particularly on New Year’s Eve, the police in your town may step up DWI/DUI check points in your area. New Jersey is participating in a stepped up enforcement throughout the state of a program called: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.