New Jersey Statutes
N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-3a (2026)
Adoption of court rules concerning photo of homicide victim
✓ current as of May 2026
3. The Supreme Court may adopt court rules pertaining to the display of a photograph of a homicide victim in court as permitted in N.J.S.2C:11-3 concerning murder and in section 3 of P.L.1985, c.249 (C.52:4B-36) concerning other homicide prosecutions. These court rules may include, but shall not be limited to, the following matters to ensure uniformity in all homicide prosecutions:
a. the size of the photograph;
b. the duration of the display;
c. the location of the photograph in the courtroom.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 82
cases (37 in the last 5 years), 1974–2026 · leading case: State v. Jimenez, 908 A.2d 181 (N.J. 2006).
State v. Jimenez, 908 A.2d 181 (N.J. 2006). “" N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a. If the jury decides that the defendant is guilty, despite any defenses he or she may raise, it then considers whether a statutory capital trigger exists beyond a reasonable doubt.”
State v. Cooper, 700 A.2d 306 (N.J. 1997). “Under N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a, murder is defined as a criminal homicide committed by an actor who knowingly or purposely intends to cause death or serious bodily injury resulting in death.”
State of New Jersey v. Wedpens Dorsainvil, 89 A.3d 584 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2014). “Defendant Wedpens Dorsainvil was indicted by a Union County Grand Jury and charged with first degree murder of Jamillah Payne, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), (2); first degree conspiracy to commit murder, N.”
State v. Dreher, 695 A.2d 672 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1997). “2C:11-3a(2), (count two); purposeful infliction of serious bodily injury resulting in death, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), (count three); knowing infliction of serious bodily injury resulting in death, N.”
Douglas v. Hendricks, 236 F. Supp. 2d 412 (D.N.J. 2002). “3400-10-87, with two counts of murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1) and (2) (Counts One and Two); aggravated assault, N.”
State of New Jersey v. Kalil Griffin, 155 A.3d 8 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017). “Hours after the jury convicted defendant Kalil Griffin of felony murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3); first-degree robbery, N.”
State v. Branch, 714 A.2d 918 (N.J. 1998). “The current Model Jury Charge reads: “You cannot find the defendant guilty of felony murder unless you first find him/her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of having committed (or attempted to commit) the crime charged in count--” Model Jury Charges (Criminal), § 2C:11-3a(3)…”
State v. Burton, 325 A.2d 856 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1974). “Section 2C:11-3a(4) of the proposed Code covers the felony murder situation and specifically excludes felons from liability for the deaths of their co-felons.”
State of New Jersey Vs. Earnst Williams (13-03-0574, Essex Cnty. & Statewide), No. A-2256-15T3 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Jan. 30, 2020). “Defendant was indicted for first-degree murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1) (count one); first-degree felony murder, N.”
State of New Jersey Vs. Earnst Williams (13-03-0574, Essex Cnty. & Statewide), No. A-2256-15T3 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Jan. 30, 2020). “Defendant was indicted for first-degree murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1) (count one); first-degree felony murder, N.”
Moon v. Johnson, No. 1:17-cv-03759 (D.N.J. June 26, 2019). “A jury found him guilty of purposeful or knowing murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1); endangering an injured victim, N.”
Thomas v. Johnson, No. 2:18-cv-00710, 2022 WL 603002 (D.N.J. Mar. 1, 2022). “See Model Jury Charge (Criminal), “Murder N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1) and 3a(2)” (2004). In those circumstances, the model charge read as follows: Causation has a special meaning under the law.”
N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-3a(1): 48 cases
State v. Jimenez, 908 A.2d 181 (N.J. 2006). “" N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a. If the jury decides that the defendant is guilty, despite any defenses he or she may raise, it then considers whether a statutory capital trigger exists beyond a reasonable doubt.”
State of New Jersey v. Wedpens Dorsainvil, 89 A.3d 584 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2014). “Defendant Wedpens Dorsainvil was indicted by a Union County Grand Jury and charged with first degree murder of Jamillah Payne, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), (2); first degree conspiracy to commit murder, N.”
State v. Dreher, 695 A.2d 672 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1997). “2C:11-3a(2), (count two); purposeful infliction of serious bodily injury resulting in death, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), (count three); knowing infliction of serious bodily injury resulting in death, N.”
Douglas v. Hendricks, 236 F. Supp. 2d 412 (D.N.J. 2002). “3400-10-87, with two counts of murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1) and (2) (Counts One and Two); aggravated assault, N.”
Moon v. Johnson, No. 1:17-cv-03759 (D.N.J. June 26, 2019). “A jury found him guilty of purposeful or knowing murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1); endangering an injured victim, N.”
N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-3a(1)(2): 10 cases
Davies v. Powell, No. 1:19-cv-12194 (D.N.J. May 24, 2022).
State of New Jersey v. Shamir Judson, No. A-0615-22 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. July 12, 2024).
State of New Jersey Vs. Tajmir D. Wyles(16-06-1621, Camden Cnty. & Statewide), No. A-3471-16T4 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Oct. 13, 2017).
Carnell Gibbs v. Adm'r New Jersey State, No. 18-2691 (3d Cir. May 19, 2020).
State of New Jersey v. Jose a. Romero-aguirre (17-05-0388, Union Cnty. & Statewide), No. A-1326-19 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Jan. 24, 2022).
N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-3a(2): 4 cases
State of New Jersey Vs. James a. Stuart (13-09-0949, Gloucester Cnty. & Statewide), No. A-3262-15T4 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Aug. 3, 2017).
State of New Jersey Vs. Dante L. Alexander (15-01-0104, Mercer Cnty. & Statewide), No. A-1491-17T4 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Jan. 9, 2020).
Clifford J. Graf Vs. New Jersey Dep't of Corr. (new Jersey Dep't of Corr.), No. A-1381-16T2 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Feb. 20, 2020).
State of New Jersey Vs. Dwayne S. Johnson (13-07-1643, Essex Cnty. & Statewide), No. A-2295-18T3 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. May 27, 2020).
N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-3a(3): 29 cases
State of New Jersey v. Kalil Griffin, 155 A.3d 8 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017). “Hours after the jury convicted defendant Kalil Griffin of felony murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3); first-degree robbery, N.”
State v. Branch, 714 A.2d 918 (N.J. 1998). “The current Model Jury Charge reads: “You cannot find the defendant guilty of felony murder unless you first find him/her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of having committed (or attempted to commit) the crime charged in count--” Model Jury Charges (Criminal), § 2C:11-3a(3)…”
Mcbride v. Kuhn, No. 3:22-cv-02016 (D.N.J. Apr. 14, 2025).
Mcbride v. Kuhn, No. 3:22-cv-02016 (D.N.J. Apr. 14, 2025).
State of New Jersey Vs. Terrance J. Patterson (14-08-0830, Burlington Cnty. & Statewide), No. A-0135-16T4 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Oct. 10, 2017).
N.J. Stat. § 2C:11-3a(4): 1 case
State v. Burton, 325 A.2d 856 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1974). “Section 2C:11-3a(4) of the proposed Code covers the felony murder situation and specifically excludes felons from liability for the deaths of their co-felons.”
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