Under New Jersey’s civil service laws, all state, plus many county and local government workers have the same rights and protections as any private sector employee would have. Civil Service was put into place to keep politics, nepotism and favoritism out of employment decisions, ensuring citizens would have the best possible government workforce. This means [...]

The possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia can lead to hefty fines, jail time and other major consequences. It is important to understand how or why you can be charged, and what a conviction means.  There are a number of drugs that can get you into trouble if found to be in your possession. Even [...]

Ah, the open road and the exhilaration of speed; an uncommon feeling of freedom. You know the speed limit is 35, but 50 just feels so right, and aren’t those speed limits just vague suggestions anyway? Suddenly, coming out of a particularly exciting turn, you see it: a parked police cruiser. You slam on the [...]

If you’re an American with a TV, you may be misinformed about the types of trials in our country and the world at large. Popular shows featuring dramatic courtroom clashes almost always depict a trial by jury. But if you look past the Hollywood hype, you’ll notice an entirely different style of trial; one that [...]

A synthetic opioid epidemic sweeps across the nation, extinguishing nearly 150 lives each day. Fentanyl, responsible for a tragically high number of these overdose deaths, is the leading killer. Although the crisis is clearly dire, there is still cause for hope; the combined forces of the CDC, local law enforcement, and powerful politicians are deeply [...]

Whether you’re a long time Judge Judy devotee, a crime drama addict, or simply someone who overheard a legal case on the news, you’ve likely heard the term Burden Of Proof before. But what does the phrase mean, and where does it fit into our legal system? If you’re looking for answers, you’ve come to [...]

Tasteful spray paint art is a sight to behold. In the skillful hands of visionaries who see entire cities as canvases, simple spray cans can breathe life and color into barren buildings, creating unlikely masterpieces out of brick and mortar. Sadly, there is a darker, criminal side to this unique, transformational form of art. When [...]

Over the last month, Catanzaro Law has explored clemency and its various manifestations in the U.S. legal system. Pardons, commutations, and reprieves have all been used throughout U.S. history to grant some level of leniency to criminals ready for reform. But what do these processes look like to the layperson? How can a criminal apply [...]

Human law is subject to the flaws of human reason, and practitioners of law, no matter how experienced, make mistakes. When a hasty trial or a questionable verdict is passed, it is sometimes possible for a defendant to appeal for clemency in the form of a reprieve. Particularly popularized for postponing the dates of death [...]