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From our private database of 34,000+ case briefs...

State v. Muhammad

New Jersey Supreme Court

678 A.2d 164 (1996)

Facts

The prosecution (plaintiff) charged Rasheed Muhammad (defendant) with capital murder after he kidnapped, raped, and murdered eight-year-old Jakiyah McClain. Before trial, Muhammad challenged the constitutionality of the New Jersey statute that allows victim-impact statements describing the personal characteristics of the victim and the impact of the crime on others in a capital-murder trial. The trial judge found the statute unconstitutional under both the state and federal constitutions. The New Jersey Supreme Court granted review.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Garibaldi, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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