Article: State Supreme Court Overturns New Jersey Hate-Crime Statute

Samuel R. Cacas
AsianWeek
06-10-1994
State Supreme Court Overturns New Jersey Hate-Crime Statute: Legislative. Body Upholds Hate-Crime Enhancement Provision

TRENTON (NJ) -- In a unanimous 6-0 ruling, the New Jersey State Supreme Court recently overturned the state's hate-crime statutes, saying that while painting anti-Semitic and anti-Asian graffiti are reprehensible acts, the messages they send are protected by free speech guarantees of the U.S. Constitution. The court also ruled that actions motivated by hate could be prosecuted under a variety of other laws, including a penal code provision that increases criminal penalties for hate-motivated crimes.

The May 26 ruling stemmed from two ...

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