State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. James E. Zola, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed James Zola's murder conviction, reversed his death sentence and remanded for a new penalty‑phase trial, holding that the trial court's jury‑selection, death‑qualification, diminished‑capacity charge, and expert testimony did not constitute reversible error. Justice Handler, in a concurring‑in‑part/dissenting‑in‑part opinion, agreed with the reversal of the death sentence but argued that the aggravated sexual‑assault conviction should also be reversed.