What does it mean when an attorney is certified?
A certified attorney is more than just an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. A New Jersey attorney who is certified by the Supreme Court as a criminal trial attorney must have:
- been a member in good standing of the New Jersey bar for over 5 years (Mr. Clark has been a member in good standing for 15 years);
- fulfilled ongoing continuing legal education requirements;
- demonstrated a substantial level of experience in criminal trial law;
- been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his work; and
- taken and passed a written examination in criminal trial law.
Attorney Charles Clark is one of only 250 lawyers in the State certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a criminal trial attorney. To put that number in perspective, there are over 70,000 lawyers in the State of New Jersey but only 250 certified criminal trial attorneys. Read more about certified criminal trial lawyers…
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On January 12, 2010, the Governor of New Jersey signed legislation radically changing a Judge’s sentencing options for a defendant charged with Distribution or Possession with intent to distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS or Drugs) within 1,000 feet of a school zone. Under the old law, a defendant was almost invariably required to serve a minimum mandatory State Prison sentence if convicted of Possession of CDS with intent to Distribute within 1000 feet of a school zone. The old law did not factor into the equation whether or not school was in session or whether or not the entire town in question fell within a “school zone.”
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Any person who violates subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:35-5 by distributing, dispensing or possessing with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog while on any school property used for school purposes which is owned by or leased to any elementary or secondary school or school board, or within 1,000 feet of such school property or a school bus, or while on any school bus, is guilty of a crime of the third degree and shall, except as provided in N.J.S.2C:35-12, be sentenced by the court to a term of imprisonment….
Amendment to New Jersey School Zone Law- No Longer Mandatory State Prison. On January 12, 2010, the Governor of New Jersey signed legislation radically changing a Judge’s sentencing options for a defendant charged with Distribution or Possession with intent to distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS or Drugs) within 1,000 feet of a school zone.
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