State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Anderson Garron, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the Appellate Division and remanded for a new trial, holding that the trial court improperly excluded the victim's prior conduct evidence that was highly relevant to the defendant's consent defense and that the court also erred by failing to charge the jury on clearly indicated lesser‑included offenses. The Court emphasized the need to balance the Rape Shield Statute’s privacy goals with a defendant's constitutional right to present a complete defense. Justice Coleman dissented, arguing that the majority’s approach undermines the purpose of the Rape Shield Law.