Clifford E. Lazzaro, P.C., has successfully challenged unlawful police practices in high-level criminal cases involving racial profiling. His firm has defended clients targeted based on race during traffic stops and searches, and he has secured major legal victories by asserting constitutional violations.
In State v. Aloysius Paul, A-4731-98T1, the defendant was convicted of first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He received a 15-year prison sentence with a five-year parole disqualifier. Clifford E. Lazzaro served as appellate counsel, arguing that the defendant’s previous attorney failed to raise the issue of racial profiling.
The Appellate Division agreed that the racial profiling claim was preserved correctly and remanded the case for further review. The trial court later vacated the guilty verdict, marking a significant appellate success and reaffirming the importance of constitutional protections against discriminatory policing.
In State v. Ryan Scott, the defendant, an African American man, was approached by New Jersey State Troopers while parked legally outside a convenience store on the New Jersey Turnpike. Despite presenting valid documents and refusing consent to search, troopers used a narcotic dog and obtained a search warrant based on the dog’s alert. The search resulted in the seizure of 37 ounces of crack cocaine, leading to a first-degree drug indictment.
Lazzaro filed a motion alleging racial profiling by the New Jersey State Police. As a result, the Division of Criminal Justice filed a motion to dismiss the indictment. The Honorable Walter R. Barisonek of Union County Superior Court granted the dismissal “in the interest of justice.”
If you’ve been charged after an unlawful stop or search, Lazzaro Law can help. Clifford E. Lazzaro has a proven record of exposing racial profiling and getting charges dropped or convictions overturned.