State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Wade Hampton, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the Appellate Division’s judgment, holding that the trial court’s jury charge on the voluntariness of the confession satisfied Miranda requirements and that the kidnapping statute’s 30‑year term is a minimum, correcting the sentence to a 30‑31 year range. The Court also announced that future courts should have the trial judge alone determine Miranda compliance and voluntariness, leaving the jury to assess credibility. Justice Weintraub dissented, arguing that the 30‑year provision should be read as a maximum, not a minimum.