State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent and Cross-Appellant v. Rahmil O’neal, Defendant-Appellant and…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that the police had probable cause to arrest Rahmil O'Neal, that the officer's question was made while O'Neal was in custody and thus violated Miranda but was harmless, that the defendant's ineffective‑assistance claim failed because the motion to suppress was waived and lacked merit, and that the sentence was not excessive. The Court reversed the Appellate Division and remanded for reinstatement of the conviction and sentence. Justice Rivera‑Soto concurred in the result, disagreeing with the majority's analysis of the Miranda issue and the waiver of the suppression claim.