STATE v. OLENOWSKI

A-56 September Term 2018 082253.

289 A.3d 456 (2023)

253 N.J. 133

STATE of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Michael OLENOWSKI, Defendant-Appellant.

Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Remanded November 18, 2019.

Special Master Report August 22, 2022 (Corrected).

Re-Argued January 17, 2023.

Decided February 17, 2023.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Margaret McLane , Assistant Deputy Public Defender, and Gregg D. Trautmann (Trautmann & Associates) argued the cause for appellant ( Joseph E. Krakora , Public Defender, attorney; Margaret McLane, of counsel and on the briefs, and Gregg D. Trautmann, Boonton, and Michael D'Alessio, Jr. (D'Alessio Law), on the briefs).

Sarah C. Hunt , Deputy Attorney General, and John McNamara, Jr. , Chief Assistant Morris County Prosecutor, argued the cause for respondent ( Matthew J. Platkin , Attorney General, attorney; Sarah C. Hunt, of counsel and on the briefs, and Adam D. Klein , Deputy Attorney General, John McNamara, Jr., and Paula C. Jordao , Assistant Morris County Prosecutor, on the briefs).

Alexander Shalom argued the cause for amici curiae American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and statistics experts Alicia Carriquiry, Kori Khan , and Susan VanderPlas (American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey Foundation, attorneys; Alexander Shalom, Newark, Jeanne LoCicero , and Alison Perrone , Deputy Public Defender, on the briefs).

John Menzel argued the cause for amicus curiae New Jersey State Bar Association (New Jersey State Bar Association, attorneys; Jeralyn L. Lawrence , President, of counsel, and John Menzel, Point Pleasant, Joshua H. Reinitz , Nutley, and Miles S. Winder, III , Bernardsville, on the briefs).

Steven W. Hernandez submitted briefs on behalf of amicus curiae National College for DUI Defense (The Hernandez Law Firm, attorneys; Steven W. Hernandez, of counsel and on the briefs, and Thomas Cannavo , Toms River, on the briefs).

Jeffrey H. Sutherland , Cape May County Prosecutor, submitted briefs on behalf of amicus curiae County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey (Jeffrey H. Sutherland, President, attorney; Monica do Outeiro , Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor, Laura Sunyak , Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor, Joseph Paravecchia , Assistant Hunterdon County Prosecutor, Gretchen Pickering , Assistant Cape May County Prosecutor, and David M. Liston , Assistant Middlesex County Prosecutor, of counsel and on the briefs).

Aidan P. O'Connor submitted briefs on behalf of amicus curiae Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey ( Pashman Stein Walder Hayden , attorneys; Aidan P. O'Connor and Marc M. Yenicag , on the briefs).

Vito A. Gagliardi, Jr. , submitted briefs on behalf of amicus curiae New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, attorneys; Vito A. Gagliardi, Jr., of counsel and on the briefs, and David L. Disler and Weston J. Kulick , Morristown, on the briefs).

Evan M. Levow submitted briefs on behalf of amicus curiae DUI Defense Lawyers Association, Inc. (Levow DWI Law, attorneys; Evan M. Levow, Cherry Hill, of counsel on the briefs).


In this opinion, we reconsider the appropriate standard to evaluate the admissibility of expert evidence under N.J.R.E. 702. The underlying appeal involves whether testimony from a trained Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) can be relied on in court.

At the heart of the case is this question...

Let's get started

Leagle.com

Welcome to the leading source of independent legal reporting
Sign on now to see your case.
Or view more than 10 million decisions and orders.

  • Updated daily.
  • Uncompromising quality.
  • Complete, Accurate, Current.

Listed below are the cases that are cited in this Featured Case. Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case.

Cited Cases

  • No Cases Found

Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case.

Citing Cases