Kenneth Vercammen is a Middlesex County Trial Attorney who has published 130 articles in national and New Jersey publications on Criminal Law, Probate, Estate and litigation topics.

He was awarded the NJ State State Bar Municipal Court Practitioner of the Year.

He lectures and handles criminal cases, Municipal Court, DWI, traffic and other litigation matters.

To schedule a confidential consultation, call us or New clients email us evenings and weekends via contact box www.njlaws.com.

Kenneth Vercammen & Associates, P.C,

2053 Woodbridge Avenue,

Edison, NJ 08817,

(732) 572-0500

Friday, October 4, 2013

Professionals, Business owners and their staff invited to Happy Hour & Networking Social Friday, December 6


Professionals, Business owners and their staff invited to Happy Hour & Networking Social
Friday, December 6, 2013
 5:00PM - 7:00PM
   at Bar Anticipation
703 16th Avenue
Lake Como/ Belmar, NJ 07719
      
    Free !
5-7PM Hot & Cold Buffet with carving station
The reduced price Happy Hour is 6-7PM with $1 House Drink, Bud/BudLt draft & House Wine Special
   Please bring a canned food donation for the St. James Food Bank Hands of Hope, continuing providing food and help to individuals in need.
      Email Ken Vercammen's Law Office so we can put your name on the VIP list for wristbands.        VercammenLaw@Njlaws.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/595540683835671/

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Removing an Executor From an Estate by Kenneth Vercammen, Esq. Edison, N...

KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOC. PC is a panel attorney for AARP Legal Services Network handling Wills, Power of Attorney, Probate, Estate Administration



KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOC. PC

2053 WOODBRIDGE AVENUE , EDISON, NJ 08817

Approximate Distance - 1 miles [ View Map ] [ Get Directions ]

Phone - 732-572-0500

Email - kenv@njlaws.com

Web Site - www.njlaws.com


CALL THIS ATTORNEY
732-572-0500

Additional Attorney Information

Attorney NameKEN VERCAMMEN
SchoolWIDENER UNIVERSITY
Year Admitted to Bar1985

Attorney's Areas of Practice*

  • Products Liability
  • Criminal
  • Nursing Home Negligence
  • Slip And Fall
  • Dui/Dwi
  • Personal Injury
  • Tort
  • Dog Bites
  • Power Of Attorney
  • Traffic
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate/Estate Administration
  • Wills
  • Felony
 
  • Will Contests
  • Juvenile
 
  • Wrongful Death
  • Living Will
 
  • Accident Injury
  • Motorcycle Accidents
 
  • Auto Accident
  • Negligence
 

Miscellaneous

  • Credit Card Accepted
  • Hosts Seminars
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The Legal Services Network from Allstate is a directory of attorneys, not a lawyer referral service or prepaid legal plan. It is an advertisement and all content regarding Listing Attorneys is provided by the Listing Attorneys. Neither AARP nor Signature Agency, Inc. endorses or recommends any Listing Attorney nor does either make any representation or warranty regarding the quality of services offered by any Listing Attorney. The Legal Services Network from Allstate is operated by Signature Agency, Inc., 2775 Sanders Road, Northbrook, IL 60062.

Amendments to New Jersey Evidence Rule 609 Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime (to be effective July 1, 2014)


Amendments to New Jersey Evidence Rule 609
Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime (to be effective July 1, 2014)
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-35, attached is the Supreme Court's Order of September 16, 2013 adopting amendments to N.J.R.E. 609 of the New Jersey Rules of Evidence as recommended by the Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Evidence. The amendments relate to impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime. In addition to amending the current text of the rule, the amendments also adopt a new paragraph regarding use of evidence of prior convictions ten or more years old. The Committee addressed this topic as requested by the Supreme Court in State v. Harris, 209 N.J. 431, 445 (2012).
The amendment proposal was presented and discussed at a Judicial Conference on September 3, 2013 in accordance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-34. The proposal, as recommended by the Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Evidence, was previously announced by public notice dated July 26, 2013.
The Court's Order notes that the effective date of the amendments is July 1, 2014. The action of the Court is subject to the terms of N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-36.
Mark Neary
Clerk of the Supreme Court
Dated: September 16, 2013
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
It is ORDERED that, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:84-33 through 2A:84A-36, the attached amendments to N.J.R.E. 609 of the New Jersey Rules of Evidence are adopted to be effective July 1, 2014.
For the Court,
Stuart Rabner
Chief Justice
Dated: September 16, 2013
N.J.R.E. 609. Impeachment by Evidence of Conviction of Crime
(a) In General
(1) For the purpose of affecting the credibility of any witness, the witness's conviction of a crime, subject to Rule 403, must [shall] be admitted unless excluded by the judge pursuant to Section (b) of this rule [as remote or for other causes].
(2) Such conviction may be proved by examination, production of the record thereof, or by other competent evidence [.] , except in a criminal case, when the defendant is the witnessand
(i) the prior conviction is the same or similar to one of the offenses charged, or
(ii) the court determines that admitting the nature of the offense poses a risk of undue prejudice to a defendant,
the State may only introduce evidence of the defendant's prior convictions limited to the degree of the crimes, the dates of the convictions, and the sentences imposed, excluding any evidence of the specific crimes of which defendant was convicted, unless the defendant waives any objection to the non-sanitized form of the evidence.
(b) Use of Prior Conviction Evidence After Ten Years
(1) If, on the date the trial begins, more than ten years have passed since the witness's conviction for a crime or release from confinement for it, whichever is later, then evidence of the conviction is admissible only if the court determines that its probative value outweighs its prejudicial effect, with the proponent of that evidence having the burden of proof.
(2) In determining whether the evidence of a conviction is admissible under Section (b)(1) of this rule, the court may consider:
(i) whether there are intervening convictions for crimes or offenses, and if so, the number, nature, and seriousness of those crimes or offenses,
(ii) whether the conviction involved a crime of dishonesty, lack of veracity or fraud,
(iii) how remote the conviction is in time,
(iv) the seriousness of the crime.
Note: Adopted September 15, 1992 to be effective July 1, 1993; text amended and designated as paragraph (a), paragraph (a) caption added, new paragraph (b) caption and text added September 16, 2013 to be effective July 1, 2014.
Amendments to New Jersey Evidence Rule 609
Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime (to be effective July 1, 2014)
New Jersey Law Journal
September 16, 2013


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Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-35, attached is the Supreme Court's Order of September 16, 2013 adopting amendments to N.J.R.E. 609 of the New Jersey Rules of Evidence as recommended by the Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Evidence. The amendments relate to impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime. In addition to amending the current text of the rule, the amendments also adopt a new paragraph regarding use of evidence of prior convictions ten or more years old. The Committee addressed this topic as requested by the Supreme Court in State v. Harris, 209 N.J. 431, 445 (2012).
The amendment proposal was presented and discussed at a Judicial Conference on September 3, 2013 in accordance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-34. The proposal, as recommended by the Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Evidence, was previously announced by public notice dated July 26, 2013.
The Court's Order notes that the effective date of the amendments is July 1, 2014. The action of the Court is subject to the terms of N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-36.
Mark Neary
Clerk of the Supreme Court
Dated: September 16, 2013
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
It is ORDERED that, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:84-33 through 2A:84A-36, the attached amendments to N.J.R.E. 609 of the New Jersey Rules of Evidence are adopted to be effective July 1, 2014.
For the Court,
Stuart Rabner
Chief Justice
Dated: September 16, 2013
N.J.R.E. 609. Impeachment by Evidence of Conviction of Crime
(a) In General
(1) For the purpose of affecting the credibility of any witness, the witness's conviction of a crime, subject to Rule 403, must [shall] be admitted unless excluded by the judge pursuant to Section (b) of this rule [as remote or for other causes].
(2) Such conviction may be proved by examination, production of the record thereof, or by other competent evidence [.] , except in a criminal case, when the defendant is the witnessand
(i) the prior conviction is the same or similar to one of the offenses charged, or
(ii) the court determines that admitting the nature of the offense poses a risk of undue prejudice to a defendant,
the State may only introduce evidence of the defendant's prior convictions limited to the degree of the crimes, the dates of the convictions, and the sentences imposed, excluding any evidence of the specific crimes of which defendant was convicted, unless the defendant waives any objection to the non-sanitized form of the evidence.
(b) Use of Prior Conviction Evidence After Ten Years
(1) If, on the date the trial begins, more than ten years have passed since the witness's conviction for a crime or release from confinement for it, whichever is later, then evidence of the conviction is admissible only if the court determines that its probative value outweighs its prejudicial effect, with the proponent of that evidence having the burden of proof.
(2) In determining whether the evidence of a conviction is admissible under Section (b)(1) of this rule, the court may consider:
(i) whether there are intervening convictions for crimes or offenses, and if so, the number, nature, and seriousness of those crimes or offenses,
(ii) whether the conviction involved a crime of dishonesty, lack of veracity or fraud,
(iii) how remote the conviction is in time,
(iv) the seriousness of the crime.
Note: Adopted September 15, 1992 to be effective July 1, 1993; text amended and designated as paragraph (a), paragraph (a) caption added, new paragraph (b) caption and text added September 16, 2013 to be effective July 1, 2014.

New law finally establishes a Conditional Dismissal Program in Municipal Court.


New law finally establishes a Conditional Dismissal Program in Municipal Court. Ken Vercammen testified in favor of the passage before the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Governor Chris Christie on September 9 signed into law legislation co-sponsored by Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset) to provide a conditional assistance program in Municipal Court for certain first-time offenders. The law takes affect 120 days after signing [approx December 9]
“This initiative will give a broader range of first-time offenders who have committed a minor offense an opportunity to turn their lives around,” Bateman said. “The program will help foster participants’ rehabilitation and future success by giving them appropriate penalties without having the offense be a part of their permanent criminal record.”
Under prior law, the only offenses eligible for a conditional discharge are certain drug-related offenses. Bateman’s S-2588 allows discharge for many non-drug offenses, such as disorderly person’s offenses, which have not been able to participate in similar programs before.
“First-time offenders who are screened to meet the eligibility requirements will be able to use the program to avoid having a record that cannot be expunged until years after the sentence is served,” Bateman added. “The legislation will also help courts efficiently adjudicate cases without costly logjams.”
Contact Kenneth Vercammen’s Law Office if charged with a criminal offense 732-572-0500
Under this law, conditional dismissal is not available to any person who has previously participated in a conditional discharge, conditional dismissal, or supervisory treatment program such as PTI. In addition, a person is not eligible for conditional dismissal if the offense for which the person is charged involved:
  organized criminal or gang activity;
  a continuing criminal business or enterprise;
  a breach of the public trust by a public officer or employee;
  domestic violence;
  an offense against an elderly, disabled or minor person;
  an offense involving driving or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug;
  animal cruelty;
  or any disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense under chapter 35 or 36 of the Criminal Code.
        After taking into consideration the eligibility criteria, the defendant’s criminal history and the prosecutor’s recommendation, the court may, approve the defendant’s participation in the conditional dismissal program and place the defendant under a probation monitoring status for a period of one year. 
      This law establishes a conditional dismissal program in municipal court similar to the existing supervisory treatment programs for pre-trial intervention and conditional discharge.
      Previously, the supervisory treatment programs for pre-trial intervention and conditional discharge allow the court to suspend proceedings against eligible defendants while the defendants participate in supervisory treatment.  Persons who are charged with indictable offenses (crimes of the first, second, third, or fourth degree) may be eligible for pretrial intervention (“PTI”) pursuant to N.J.S.2C:43-12 et seq.  Persons charged with certain disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons drug offenses may be eligible for conditional discharge pursuant to N.J.S.2C:36A-1.  If the defendant violates a term or condition of supervisory treatment, the court may enter a judgment of conviction or, where the defendant did not previously plead guilty and was not previously found guilty, resume the criminal proceedings.  If the defendant successfully completes the program, the criminal charges are dismissed.
      CONDITIONAL DISMISSAL PROGRAM. This law establishes a similar diversion program in municipal court to be known as the conditional dismissal program.  Under the provisions of the law, a defendant who is charged with a petty disorderly persons offense or disorderly persons offense may apply to enter into the conditional dismissal program, provided the defendant  has not been previously convicted of any offense or crime under any law of the United States, this State or any other state.  A defendant may make an application to the conditional dismissal program after a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt, but prior to the entry of judgment of conviction.
      FINGERPRINTING REQUIREMENT.  To allow sufficient time for verification of the defendant’s criminal history by the prosecutor and as a condition of the application, the defendant will be required to submit to the fingerprint identification procedures as provided in R.S.53:1-15 before making an application to the court.
      CONDITIONAL DISMISSAL PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. Conditional dismissal will not be available to any person who has previously participated in conditional discharge, conditional dismissal, or PTI.  In addition, conditional dismissal will not be available if the offense for which the person is charged involved: organized criminal or gang activity; a continuing criminal business or enterprise; a breach of the public trust by a public officer or employee; domestic violence; an offense against an elderly, disabled or minor person; an offense involving driving or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug; animal cruelty laws; or any disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense under chapter 35 or 36 of the Criminal Code (drugs and drug paraphernalia). However, a person who is charged with a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense involving drugs or drug paraphernalia may apply for a conditional discharge in accordance with N.J.S.2C:36A-1.
      In addition to these eligibility criteria, the court considering the application must also consider the following factors: the nature and circumstances of the offense; the facts surrounding the commission of the offense; the motivation, age, character and attitude of the defendant; the desire of the complainant or victim to forego prosecution; the needs and interests of the victim and the community; the extent to which the defendant’s offense constitutes part of a continuing pattern of anti-social behavior; whether the offense is of an assaultive or violent nature, either in the act itself or in the possible injurious consequences of such behavior; whether the applicant's participation will adversely affect the prosecution of codefendants; whether diversion of the defendant from prosecution is consistent with the public interest; and any other factors deemed relevant by the court.
      If the court approves a defendant’s participation in the conditional dismissal program over the municipal prosecutor’s objection, that order will, upon the request of the prosecutor, be stayed for a period of 10 days in order to permit the prosecutor to appeal the order to the Superior Court.
      PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.  After taking into consideration the eligibility criteria, the defendant’s criminal history and the prosecutor’s recommendation, the court may approve the defendant’s participation in the conditional dismissal program and place the defendant under a probation monitoring status for a period of one year. The court may also impose financial obligations and other terms and conditions in accordance with the law.  The law permits the defendant to apply to the court for an extension of the term of conditional dismissal to allow sufficient time to pay financial obligations imposed by the court.  In addition, a judge could extend the term for good cause.
      If a defendant who is participating in conditional dismissal is convicted of any offense or crime under any law of the United States, this State or any other state, or otherwise fails to comply with the terms and conditions imposed by the court, the court can enter a judgment of conviction and impose a fine, penalty, or other assessment in accordance with the defendant’s prior plea of guilty or prior finding of guilt.
      If, at the end of the term, the defendant has not been convicted of any subsequent offense or crime under any law of the United States, this State or any other state, and has complied with any other terms and conditions imposed by the court, the court may terminate the probation monitoring and dismiss the proceedings against the defendant.
      The law provides that a conditional dismissal of a petty disorderly persons or disorderly persons offense granted pursuant to the program will not be deemed a conviction for purposes of disqualifications or disabilities, but shall be reported to the State Bureau of Identification criminal history record information files for purposes of determining future eligibility or exclusion from court diversion programs.  A conditional dismissal granted will not be deemed a conviction for the purposes of determining whether a second or subsequent offense has occurred under any law of this State.
      LIMITATION.  A conditional dismissal can only be granted once with respect to any defendant.
      CONDITIONAL DISMISSAL APPLICATION FEE AND ASSESSMENT.  A person applying for admission to the conditional dismissal program will pay to the court an application fee of $75.  The fee would be deposited in the newly created “Municipal Court Diversion Fund” established under the law. Monies in this new fund will be used to offset the cost of intake and monitoring services related to the conditional dismissal program.  If admitted into the program, the defendant would also be required to pay any restitution, costs, and other mandatory assessments that would have been imposed by law for a conviction of the offense charged.
      A municipal court judge may impose an assessment, based on the nature of the offense and the character of the defendant that shall not exceed the amount of a fine that would have been imposed for conviction of the offense charged.  Such assessment would be distributed in the same manner as a fine for the offense.
      A defendant would be advised of these financial conditions prior to seeking entry into the program.
      The law allows the defendant to apply for a waiver of the fee by reason of poverty.  The court may also permit the defendant to pay the conditional dismissal fee and other assessments in installments or order other alternatives pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2009, c.317 (C.2B:12-23.1).  Under the provisions of that enactment, the court has several options available if it finds that a person does not have the ability to pay a penalty in full or has failed to pay a previously imposed penalty.  The court may reduce, suspend, or modify the installment plan; order that credit be given against the amount owed for each day of confinement if the court finds that the person has served jail time for the default; revoke any unpaid portion of the penalty; order the person to perform community service in lieu of payment of the penalty; or impose any other alternative permitted by law.
      MUNICIPAL COURT DIVERSION FUND.  The law establishes a new dedicated, non-lapsing fund to be known as the "Municipal Court Diversion Fund," which will be administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts.  The fund will be the depository of the $75 application fee for the conditional dismissal program.  Monies in the fund will be used to offset the cost of intake and monitoring services for defendants under the conditional dismissal program.
      CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE. Currently, the conditional discharge statute, N.J.S.2C:36A-1, provides that the $75 fee, which is charged for this program, is used to defray the costs of juror compensation. However, this provision is outdated since these monies are no longer used to defray the costs of juror compensation, but instead are paid to the State Treasurer to for deposit in the General Fund. This law updates this section of law accordingly.
      Under the current provisions of the conditional discharge statute, a person is not eligible for conditional discharge if that person has committed a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons drug offense under any law of the United States, this State or any other state. The law amends section a. of N.J.S.2C:36A-1 to also provide that a person who has participated in any supervisory treatment program or the conditional dismissal program established under the law will not be eligible for participation in the conditional discharge program.
      SUPERVISORY TREATMENT (PTI).  Similar to the conditional discharge statute, the PTI statute, N.J.S.2C:43-12, provides that the $75 fee charged for the program is used to defray the costs of juror compensation. Since these monies are no longer used to defray the costs of juror compensation, the law updates this section of law accordingly.
      Under the current provisions of N.J.S.2C:43-12, PTI may only occur once and any person who has previously received PTI is not eligible for subsequent PTI. This law expands this provision by providing that a person who has participated in either conditional dismissal or conditional discharge will not be eligible for PTI.
      The law amends the conditional discharge and PTI statutes to provide that the court may allow the payment of the fees and other financial obligations in installments.
      EXPUNGEMENT. The law amends N.J.S.2C:52-6 concerning expungement of arrests not resulting in conviction to allow for expungement of charges dismissed pursuant to conditional discharge or conditional dismissal six months after the entry of the order of dismissal. Currently, this section allows for expungement for a person who has had charges dismissed as a result of participation in a supervisory treatment program.