State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Marko Bey (I), Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed Marko Bey's murder convictions, holding that his confession was inadmissible because police failed to scrupulously honor his invocation of the right to remain silent, and that mid‑trial publicity prejudiced his right to a fair jury. The Court also held that the death‑penalty statute cannot be applied to a juvenile offender, so any retrial may impose only a term of thirty years to life with a mandatory minimum of thirty years. Justice Handler concurred, arguing that the majority’s discussion of an enhanced appellate standard was inconsistent.