Sumner is pretty much over, and fingerprints will go to court in New Jersey.
You recall the timeframe:
“Judge Carmen Messano…is hereby recalled by the Supreme Court for temporary service within the judicial system other than the Supreme Court effective September 1, 2026 through March 1, 2027, or until further Order, to serve as a Special Adjudicator in the matter of State v. French G. Lee…”
For those who don’t memorize court case names, that’s the case that will consider the admissibility of fingerprint evidence in New Jersey.
With what results? I previously speculated:
“Perhaps the assessment will determine that fingerprint evidence is admissible provided that certain safeguards are implemented: for example, that the latent examiner is not subject to bias before making their forensic examination, or perhaps the blind secondary verification is implemented.
“Or the assessment may regard fingeprint evidence as inadmissible, or not sufficient on its own merits to result in a conviction (in other words, just like facial recognition and DNA).”
I was not able to determine if Judge Messano literally started working yesterday, or if he will wait until after Labor Day.
Regardless, it will presumably be some time before any hearings, or anything else, are publicly announced.
Stay tuned.
Bredemarket 