Court Opinion

ID: 9733694
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:14:26.204378+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:43.643877
License: Public Domain

*590STEIN, J.,
concurring in judgment.
I concur only in the judgment of the Court. In view of the majority opinion’s thoughtful and painstaking discussion of the merits, ante at 581-583, 601 A.2d at 206-207, the opinion’s assertion that “we do not reach the merits of [petitioner’s] claim,” ante at 589, 601 A.2d at 210, is indeed perplexing. When, as in this case, the merits must be addressed to determine whether any of the relevant exceptions to Rule 3:22-4 is applicable, the denial of post-conviction relief should be based both on the Rule and on the determination that defendant has established neither fundamental injustice nor a denial of his constitutional rights.
For reversal and reinstatement — Chief Justice WILENTZ, and Justices CLIFFORD, HANDLER, POLLOCK, O’HERN, GARIBALDI and STEIN — 7.
For affirmance — None.