Lackey & Miller, LLC

08/03/2026

State court and federal court are two completely different games. In state court, probation might be on the table. In federal court, conviction rates are high and prison time is standard. If you’re facing federal charges, you need a defense team that actually knows the federal system. Don't gamble with your freedom.

07/28/2026

Another criminal case Dismissed in New Jersey! ​When police cross the line or execute an unlawful search without proper probable cause or authority, the evidence obtained can be thrown out. Without that core evidence, the prosecution's case falls apart—leading to a full dismissal.

If you have been charged with a crime in New Jersey, do not hesitate, call Lackey & Miller!

07/01/2026

🚨 If a detective or police officer contacts you about an investigation, your first instinct might be to "clear things up." But did you know that even well-meaning actions can unintentionally damage your defense?

​In this blog post, we break down the top mistakes people make during a criminal investigation—and exactly how you can protect your rights:

​❌ Talking to police without an attorney present
❌ Consenting to property searches without a warrant
❌ Reaching out to witnesses or victims to "sort things out"
❌ Posting or venting about the situation on social media

​Remember: Law enforcement often has more information than they are sharing. Staying silent isn't a sign of guilt—it's your constitutional right. ⚖️
​Read the full guide to learn how to handle these situations safely:
👇👇👇

https://www.lackeymillerlaw.com/blog/top-mistakes-people-make-during-a-criminal-investigation-and-how-to-avoid-them/

06/22/2026

If you get pulled over in New Jersey, do you know exactly what your rights are when it comes to your vehicle? 🚔🚗

​The rules for when police can legally search your car are highly specific. From the "plain view" doctrine to what actually constitutes probable cause, knowing where the line is drawn can make or break a case.
​In our blog post, we break down exactly when a vehicle search is legal, when it isn't, and what you should do if you find yourself in this situation.



​👉 Read the full guide here:

Know your rights in New Jersey traffic stops. Find out when police can search your car based on probable cause, consent, and legal exceptions.

04/09/2026

Interesting case to keep an eye on.

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a major Fourth Amendment case involving “geofence warrants”—a tool that allows law enforcement to obtain data on every device in a certain area, not just a specific suspect.

As former prosecutors, we understand both how these types of warrants are used and how far-reaching they can be. They raise serious concerns about the potential infringement on individual rights, particularly when they impact large numbers of people with no connection to any alleged crime.

We’ll be watching this case closely as it develops and as the Supreme Court weighs in on the constitutional limits of these investigative tools.

This is an important issue for anyone concerned about privacy and the scope of law enforcement authority.

SCOTUS will hear oral arguments this month in a Fourth Amendment case that involves the digital privacy rights of millions.

04/08/2026

Can you avoid a criminal record in NJ?

In many cases—yes.

New Jersey offers diversionary programs like:
✔️ Pretrial Intervention (PTI)
✔️ Conditional Discharge
✔️ Conditional Dismissal

If successfully completed, your charges can be dismissed.

These programs are designed for first-time offenders in NJ, but eligibility depends on the charge, your history, and how your case is handled.

We regularly help clients throughout Burlington County, Camden County, Atlantic County, and Gloucester County navigate these options.

Don’t assume you have to plead guilty.

📖 Learn more: https://www.lackeymillerlaw.com/blog/understanding-new-jersey-diversion-programs/
📞 Free consultations available

New Jersey's diversionary programs can help you avoid a permanent criminal record. Learn about PTI, Conditional Discharge, and Conditional Dismissal.

01/14/2026

Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant decision in Barrett v. United States, clarifying how federal firearm statutes interact when one act potentially violates two overlapping provisions of law.
🔍 What the Court Held:
When a defendant’s single act — such as using a firearm during a violent crime — technically violates both 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (use/carry/possession of a firearm in a crime of violence or drug trafficking) and 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) (causing death during such a firearm offense), the Court ruled that only one conviction and sentence is permitted. The decision emphasizes that Congress did not clearly authorize separate cumulative punishments for the same conduct under both statutes.
⚖️ The ruling reverses part of the Second Circuit’s decision and remands for resentencing consistent with this principle, reaffirming the core constitutional protection against double jeopardy: a person should not be punished more than once for the same offense.
💡 Why It Matters:
This decision limits prosecutorial ability to stack convictions and sentences under overlapping gun statutes when they stem from the same act. It could lead to resentencing in federal firearm cases where courts previously allowed multiple punishments under both § 924(c) and § 924(j).

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-5774_9nbe.pdf

12/05/2025

🔥 A Win for All NJ Cellphone Users!!

New Jersey Just Took a Big Step for Privacy! 📱🔒
A new court decision has blocked police from using “tower-dump” warrants to seize information from every phone in a radius — a huge win for anyone who’s ever worried about being tracked simply because they happened to be in the area of a crime.

➡️ What it means: If you’ve got a cell phone, this ruling protects your data from being swept up and examined just because you were nearby.
➡️ What you should know: Police now need a valid, particularized warrant — they can’t just grab data from thousands of phones at once.

If you believe your phone data was improperly obtained, or you’ve been charged based on tower-dump info — call us. At Lackey & Miller, LLC, we fight for your privacy rights and know how to defend against unconstitutional data sweeps.



https://www.njcourts.gov/system/files/court-opinions/2025/a1399-24.pdf