No Mistrial for Fired NJ Trooper Over Jury Coercion Concerns

A New Jersey judge that ignored jurors’ concerns over impending vacation travel didn’t grant a fired state trooper a mistrial despite worries over pressure to reach a verdict.

Defendant Marc Dennis, who was fired after his records issues called 20,667 alcohol breath samples into question, won’t get a new trial over his verdict finding him guilty of official misconduct, a pattern of official misconduct, and theft for allegedly using a trooper ID to get out of a traffic ticket while suspended. The alleged pressure the judge placed on jurors antsy to leave town at 4:30 p.m. the day before ...