Kevin R. Li Argues Before the New Jersey Supreme Court Representing the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (Amicus)

Kevin R. Li, associate at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., recently represented the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (Amicus) in State vs. C.P. before the New Jersey Supreme Court. Li’s representation of ACDL-NJ was through the organization’s partnership with the firm’s Stein Public Interest Center under the direction of Director CJ Griffin.

The legal dispute centers on whether any extraordinary aggravating factors were present that would warrant a denial of C.P.’s petition for compassionate release under the Compassionate Release Act, N.J.S.A. 30:4-123.51e. The New Jersey Supreme Court now faces the decision of either upholding the Appellate Division’s reversal of the trial court’s decision to deny C.P.’s compassionate release or denying C.P.’s petition for compassionate release.  

In addressing the Justices, Li emphasized the significance of the Legislature’s intent to reduce the immense healthcare costs for New Jersey’s correctional facilities. Li argued, “There is no logical or practical reason to keep C.P. incarcerated and held within the Department of Corrections system because C.P. is the exact type of persons intended to receive Compassionate Release. There is certainly no factor that exists in this case that is so exceptional and rare, that would constitute an extraordinary aggravating factor which this court was talking about in the morning, that would warrant overriding the Legislature’s goal of reducing the immense strain on taxpayer dollars so that those funds can be better utilized to achieve the other goals of the Department of Corrections.” said Li.