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Allison E. Accurso
Allison E. Accurso is a judge for Part C of the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division. She assumed office on August 1, 2012. Her current term ends on April 24, 2029.
Education
Accurso earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Rutgers University.[1]
Career
Accurso was appointed the New Jersey Superior Court by Governor Richard Codey in 2005. She first served as a judge in the family division of Morris and Sussex Counties Vicinage and Mercer County Vicinage. Later she became presiding judge of the civil division, and then general equity presiding judge, in Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties Vicinage. She was appointed to the appellate division by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner in July of 2012.[2]
Prior to becoming a judge, Accurso worked as a law clerk to former appellate division Presiding Judge Michael Patrick King, as a lawyer at the law firm of Fox, Rothschild, O’Brien & Frankel and as an assistant attorney general.[2]
Awards and associations
Past associations include:[2]
- New Jersey Judiciary Advisory Committee on Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance (Chair)
- New Jersey Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee (Member)
- District VII Ethics Committee (Member)
- East Amwell Township Planning Board
Noteworthy cases
Appeals court denies appeal from inmate convicted of kidnapping and murder (2015)
In 1994, Sandra McKnight was unloading groceries from her car when three men approached, forced her into the car and drove off. The men later stole another car, deciding to get rid of McKnight's car. They drove to an isolated place and shot her in the back of the head once, killing her. She was found later still in the car. Alonzo Hill was arrested after one of the other men with him that night told police he was involved in McKnight's murder. Hill was arrested, charged, tried and convicted of carjacking, kidnapping and murder; he received four consecutive life sentences. Hill appealed his conviction, claiming he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and during his appeal of right.
Two judges of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, William E. Nugent and Allison E. Accurso, weighed in on March 31, 2015, finding that Hill has no right to relief. The court found that Hill had not shown any proof of errors by the trial court or his attorney. In essence, the court found Hill received a fair trial. Further, Hill claimed that his attorney failed to conduct a proper investigation or call certain witnesses at trial. The appellate court did not agree, finding that there was no proof that his trial counsel failed to investigate as required by law, or that the presentation of more or different witnesses would have made a difference in the outcome.
Hill must serve 105 years before he is eligible for parole.
Articles:
See also
- New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division
- News: Five New Jersey Superior Court judges appointed to Appellate Division, July 7, 2012
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Martindale.com, "Judge Profile: Allison E. Accurso"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cite error: Invalid
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Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of New Jersey • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Jersey
State courts:
New Jersey Supreme Court • New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division • New Jersey Superior Courts • New Jersey Municipal Courts • New Jersey Tax Court
State resources:
Courts in New Jersey • New Jersey judicial elections • Judicial selection in New Jersey
