State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Lewis B. Morrison, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Appellate Division and remanded, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing the distribution and strict liability for drug‑induced death charges because the defendant and the victim were joint possessors of the heroin, not parties to a distribution. The Court affirmed that joint possession precludes the element of distribution required for those offenses. Justice Rivera‑Soto dissented, arguing the grand‑jury process should not be interfered with at the pre‑trial stage.