State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Ralph Herman Ingenito, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that the admission of the defendant's prior conviction as collateral estoppel in a criminal trial violated his constitutional right to a trial by jury, reversing the conviction and remanding for a new trial. The Court reasoned that such preclusive use deprives the jury of its fact‑finding function and creates an impermissible presumption of guilt. Justice Schreiber, in a concurring opinion, argued that the issue could be resolved on evidentiary grounds without reaching the constitutional question.