Plea bargains are an important element of the criminal justice system in New Jersey and across the U.S. The American Bar Association reports that approximately 98% of criminal convictions in the U.S. come from guilty pleas rather than from trials. Plea bargains help our justice system function efficiently by reducing the need for criminal trials …

Before a defendant engages a criminal defense lawyer in New Jersey, it’s important for him or her to assess the criminal attorney’s experience. Criminal defendants in state or federal courts to be tried by juries have specific rights. Each defendant’s jury must be fairly selected from an appropriate cross-section of residents. The criminal defense attorney …