Certified by the Supreme Court of New
Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney
I am designated
as
a certified criminal trial attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. I received my initial certification from the New
Jersey Supreme Court in March, 1999 and thereafter re-certified in
March, 2006 and March, 2012. Few New Jersey attorneys are so recognized as the certification requirements
are rigorous.
If you are facing
the loss of personal freedom, contact my office to
discuss your case as I personally handle all cases I accept for
representation.
My Role as a New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney
The great trial
lawyer Daniel Webster said: “Justice is the greatest concern of man
on earth.” I believe there is no greater professional
calling than to stand as a lawyer in front of a jury and breathe
life into our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, statutory law and
common law by asserting and defending the rights of ordinary
citizens who are accused of a crime on the federal or state level. The
Criminal Defense Attorney is a vital part of our system of
justice and the protection of individual rights and freedoms. Our system of justice, however, is adversarial and results in
frequent public misunderstanding of the advocacy system. In
spite of the misunderstandings, the Criminal Defense Attorney’s
protection of individual rights against a federal or state criminal
charge is a key element in the perpetuation of our American freedom
which stands as the model for freedom for the rest of the world.
In the fall of
2006, I traveled to the Czech Republic as a Scholar of the
United States Fulbright Commission to promote the Rule
of Law including the right to a jury trial. I taught United
States Criminal Practice and Procedure to a group of lawyers
struggling to implement democratic reforms in their own country. Serving as
Fulbright Scholar in the Czech Republic reinforced my
firm belief in the vital role of the Criminal Defense Attorney in
our American system of justice and the protection of individual
rights.
Are You Facing Federal or New Jersey State
Criminal Charges?
If you are facing
a Federal criminal
charge or
State of New Jersey criminal
charge,
you are probably facing the
most difficult situation in your life. It is crucial
that you obtain experienced, knowledgeable and aggressive New Jersey legal
counsel. Personal freedom is one of the most important
rights afforded to all citizens of the United States. The
potential loss of personal freedom from a criminal accusation on the
Federal or State of N.J. level requires an aggressive defense where the
client is involved in every aspect of the case. Because
you are an integral part of your defense, it is vital that you are
informed of how a felony case proceeds through the federal or state
system, the evidence against you and all possible defenses to the
accusation including practical and tactical considerations. I work closely and personally with all clients to ensure that
strategy and decision making involve the direct participation of the
client.
As soon as you
come into contact with the federal or state legal system, you need
immediate assistance from a NJ criminal lawyer. Prompt assistance can mean the
difference between keeping or losing your personal freedom. I have the skills and experience to provide an aggressive defense.
I invite you to contact my office to review your case.
John F. Renner is
certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney
CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
It can be confusing when trying to choose an attorney to meet your legal
needs. You may have never needed an attorney before, so you ask a friend
to refer you to someone or you look in the Yellow Pages where hundreds of
attorneys are listed. But how do you choose one attorney over another and
how can you be sure that you will choose the right attorney to handle your
particular legal problem?
Finding the right attorney is to the benefit of both you and the attorney
you choose. That is why the Supreme Court of New Jersey has directed the
Board on Attorney Certification to administer the attorney certification
program in an effort both to protect consumers from false advertising and
to raise the level of competence of attorneys in this State. This program
is designed to help you make an informed decision when seeking and
selecting a lawyer.
The Board on Attorney Certification was established by the Supreme Court
of New Jersey in 1980 for the purpose of helping consumers find attorneys
who have a recognized level of competence in particular fields of law.
Attorneys may be designated by the Supreme Court as "certified
attorneys" if they: are able to demonstrate sufficient levels of
experience, education, knowledge and skill in a specific area of law or
practice; have passed a rigorous examination; and have been recognized by
their peers as having sufficient skills and reputation in the designated
specialty.
The Supreme Court, through recommendation by the Board, currently
certifies attorneys in four areas: civil trial law, criminal trial law,
matrimonial law, and workers' compensation law.
An attorney must meet the following requirements
to become certified:
has been a member in good standing of the New Jersey Bar for at
least five years;
has taken a specific number of continuing legal education courses in
the three years prior to filing an application;
demonstrates substantial involvement in preparation of litigated
matters;
demonstrates an unblemished reputation by submitting a list of
attorneys and judges who will attest to the applicant's character and
ability; and
passes a written examination covering various aspects of practice in
the designated specialty.
(as posted at the
New Jersey Board on Attorney Certification Website,
http://www.njbac.org
)
JFR Law Blogs
NEW JERSEY CRIMINAL ATTORNEY MOVES TO
SUPPRESS
CONFESSION DUE TO DEFENDANT’S RIGHT TO COUNSEL
After being
arrested as part of a murder investigation, the defendant
acknowledged his understanding of his rights both orally and in
writing. Immediately after signing the waiver the defendant inquired
concerning his right to have a lawyer present at the time of
questioning. The police detective did not responded to the
defendant’s requests directly, instead he informed the defendant
“that’s on you.” The defendant ultimately decided to continue
questioning without the presence of a New Jersey attorney because he
was already waist deep, about to drown so there was no need for a
lawyer until court. Following the exchange, the defendant confessed.
The defendant’s
New Jersey criminal attorney moved to suppress the confession after
the defendant was indicted for murder and other charges. The trial
court found that the police had failed to honor the defendant’s
request for a New Jersey attorney and misinformed the defendant
about his right. Thus, the court granted the defendant’s motion to
suppress. The Appellate Division concluded that the exchange between
the defendant and the detective clarified the defendant’s waiver of
his rights.
On appeal, the
New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the defendant’s waiver of his
rights was “knowing, voluntary, and intelligent” because his
statements were not an assertion of his right to counsel.
Furthermore, the court held that the officer’s questions did not
exceed the scope of permissible clarification.
Legal Quote of
the Week:
“A right which
goes unrecognized by anybody is not worth very much”
Abraham Lincoln
and the story behind
the Rockwell Painting
The occasion depicted in this Rockwell painting is
the 1858 murder trial of an Illinois man named William "Duff"
Armstrong. Armstrong was accused of murdering James Preston Metzker
with a “slung-shot" - a weight tied to a leather thong, sort of an
early blackjack - a few minutes before midnight on August 29, 1857.
Lincoln was a friend of the accused man's father, Jack Armstrong,
who'd just died, and so he offered to help defend young Duff
Armstrong, without pay, as a favor to Jack Armstrong's widow.
The principal prosecution witness against Armstrong
was a man named Charles Allen, who testified that he'd seen the
murder from about 150 feet away. When Lincoln asked Allen how he
could tell it was Armstrong given that it was the middle of the
night and he was a considerable distance away from the murder scene,
Allen replied, "By the light of the moon."
Enter the Almanac!
Upon hearing Allen's testimony, Lincoln produced a
copy of the 1857 edition, turned to the two calendar pages for
August, and showed the jury that not only was the moon in the first
quarter but it was riding "low" on the horizon, about to set, at the
precise time of the murder. There would not have been enough light
for Allen to identify Armstrong or anyone else, said Lincoln. The
jury agreed, and Duff Armstrong was acquitted.
“As trial
lawyers, you are committed to the resolution of conflicts
and the pursuit
of justice through legal and rational
means. This work is indispensable to the construction
of a
truly humane and harmonious social order, as the centuries
old judicial experience of
the West bears eloquent
witness.”
The information
presented on this website is for general informational purposes
only. Nothing contained within this site should be
construed as legal advice. You should speak to a lawyer to
address any specific questions about your particular Federal or
State criminal defense matter.
Disclaimer.
