S 1434 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Eliminates immunity for State, county, and municipal prosecutors who fail to disclose exculpatory evidence in criminal cases.

This bill eliminates legal immunity for New Jersey prosecutors who fail to disclose evidence that could help a defendant (exculpatory evidence) in criminal cases, as required by state guidelines based on federal court rulings. It directly affects state, county, and municipal prosecutors, as well as defendants who were denied such evidence. Key mechanisms include requiring courts to notify ethics officials within 24 hours of a violation, allowing victims to sue prosecutors and their employers for damages, and removing immunity for these failures. The law also mandates that courts award attorney fees to successful plaintiffs and specifies that prosecutors must follow clear disclosure standards set by the Attorney General.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

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