This case is part of the ACLU-NJ's ongoing work to ensure pretrial justice reforms in New Jersey are implemented fairly and protect liberty. The ACLU-NJ, as a friend-of-the-court, weighed in on the proper scope of discovery in pretrial detention hearings. Mr. Dickerson was arrested after police executed a search warrant in a barbershop in which he worked. The State sought to detain him while he awaited trial but refused to provide the affidavit in support of the search warrant. As part of broader efforts to ensure the State carries its burden of proof when it wants to overcome the presumption of release under the new reforms, the ACLU-NJ argued that the affidavit was required to show a nexus between the defendant and the contraband police found and alleged belonged to him.
The case was argued on November 8, 2017. On February 5, 2018, the New Jersey Supreme Court issued an opinion denying the defendant access to the affidavit in support of the search warrant.
