State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Anthony Maurice Norman, A/K/A Quader, A/K/A Tony Fair…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Appellate Division’s grant of post‑conviction relief to Duncan and reversed the affirmation of the denial of post‑conviction relief to Norman, holding that the per‑se conflict rule did not apply because the attorneys were not partners at the time of trial, that Norman’s fee‑arrangement conflict created a significant likelihood of prejudice warranting relief, and that Duncan’s conflict claim did not meet the prejudice threshold. The Court also held that the erroneous accomplice‑liability instruction was harmless.