State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Clarence Smith and Lee Stanford, Defendants-Appellants

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the first‑degree murder convictions of Smith and Stanford, holding that the confessions were voluntary and admissible, that the felony‑murder theory applies to both defendants, and that the pre‑indictment juvenile procedures did not violate due process. The court also rejected the defendants' claims that the jury instruction on voluntariness was erroneous. Justice Weiittkatjb, in a concurring opinion, agreed with the result but advocated a different approach to the jury instruction on involuntary confessions.