State v. Habeeb Robinson(078900) (Essex County and Statewide)

In this appeal, we consider the newly enacted Criminal Justice Reform Act for the first time and address the type and scope of discovery the State must provide when it seeks to detain a defendant pretrial.

The new law changed the landscape of the State’s criminal justice system relating to pretrial release. The statute marked a shift away from heavy reliance on monetary bail. Judges now have the authority to detain defendants prior to trial if they present a serious risk of danger, flight, or obstruction. N.J.S.A. 2A:162-18(a)(1). Defendants who pose less risk can be released on their own…