New Jersey Judiciary Moves Toward Expungement for Nearly 88,000 Marijuana Cases

The New Jersey Judiciary has vacated or dismissed nearly 88,000 cases related to certain
marijuana and hashish convictions or pending cases since July 1, following the
decriminalization of specific marijuana offenses in New Jersey.

The cases are the first of about 360,000 identified by the Judiciary in Superior and Municipal
courts as eligible to be automatically vacated, dismissed, and expunged under the Marijuana
Decriminalization Law that became effective on July 1.

After vacating convictions or dismissing cases, the Judiciary will automatically expunge those
cases in the coming months.

A Supreme Court order issued July 1 by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner directs pending cases for
certain eligible offenses to be dismissed and warrants for failure to appear to be rescinded. The
eligible fourth-degree and disorderly persons offenses relating to marijuana or hashish include
distribution of certain quantities of the drugs, possession of certain quantities of the drugs,
possession of paraphernalia; use or being under the influence of the drugs; and operating a
motor vehicle while in possession of the drugs.

Related violations of probation or pretrial monitoring also will be vacated and driver’s license
suspensions or revocations for failure to appear will be rescinded.

The order also directs the cases of eligible defendants that are pending sentencing or have
completed sentencing to be vacated and dismissed.

The Judiciary also is creating an electronic system to allow staff to provide a certification of
expungement to members of the public seeking to determine whether their case has been
expunged.

Cases with charges that are not eligible for dismissal under the new law will not be expunged.
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