Badge - Rated by Super Lawyers Victor A. Rotolo
Badge - Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Badge - Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forums
Badge - New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Attorney
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Badge - New Jersey's Best Lawyers For Families 2018
Badge - Rated by Super Lawyers
Badge - AV Preeminent Victor A. Rotolo
Badge - Client Champion Gold
Badge - Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce
Badge - Top 100 The National Trial Lawyers
Please click Award & Selection Criteria & Methodology for information regarding the specific criteria used for selection of each of the above awards.

October 2019 - Going the Distance to Fight for Clients’ Rights

Going the Distance to Fight for Clients’ RightsWhen dealing with the law, it is important to understand and fully exercise your rights as they pertain to your situation. Failure to do this can have serious repercussions in any future legal matters you may face. An example of this was evident in a recent case of mine.

This past August, I had the very rare opportunity to argue before the New Jersey Supreme Court in a case of constitutional import. My client was facing certain jail time for a DUI charge had the court not recognized that a basic constitutional right had been overlooked.

We fought this case through the Superior Court Law Division, the Appellate Courts, and all the way to the highest court in the state, where we prevailed against the State Attorney General’s Office and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. In a unanimous 7-0 decision, the NJ Supreme Court ruled that a previous DUI conviction cannot be used in a later DUI case for the purposes of sentencing if:

  • The individual charged plead or was found guilty, and
  • The individual was not advised of his/her right to counsel or, as to indigent individuals, his/her right to assigned counsel.

When you’re in trouble with the law, it’s comforting to know you have someone in your corner helping you navigate a difficult, oftentimes scary situation. Emotions can cause you to overlook or misunderstand even your most basic constitutional rights.

I’ve worked with the law all my adult life, first as a police officer and now as an attorney. I respect our laws, but I wholeheartedly believe the punishment should fit the crime, not exceed it.

This was the third case I argued before the State Supreme Court and won. As an attorney, the most important thing to me is protecting my clients’ rights and seeing that they receive fair, just and compassionate decisions no matter what their legal issues involve.

What Our Clients are Saying
★★★★★

I was very proud to be represented by Tony and felt secure at a time I needed a compass to head out of a difficult bind. Confidence in your counsel and a sense of security in understanding how best to proceed are important reasons to consider Anthony Kearns and his team of outstanding lawyers.

- Lynn
★★★★★

Tony was excellent! He was knowledgeable, responsive and on-time. His experience as a County Prosecutor definitely helped our case as he knows how the legal system works and how to navigate. I highly recommend Tony and his office.

- Matt
★★★★★

Thankfully I found Kearns Rotolo Law and I had a wonderful experience working with Charles Rifici on a difficult divorce/child custody issue. I am so grateful for all the work and guidance he provided. He always took his time and diligently went through all my options with me so I could make the decisions that benefitted my family and I. I will be forever thankful for the top notch services he provided.

- Cinthya
★★★★★

In March of 2022 I contacted Kearns Rotolo Law Firm with an urgent problem, Mr. Kearns and Mr. Rotolo contacted me immediately to give me hope as to rectify my problem. The end result was Mr Kearns was able to solve my issue through extreme professionalism, I am very grateful I found Kearns Rotolo Law firm and I would recommend their law firm to anyone that has a less extreme problem or a more complex problem, I am very grateful for their services.

- Bill
★★★★★

I met with Mr. Kearns yesterday about a devastating situation affecting our family. Mr. Kearns and his entire staff made us feel extremely comfortable and showed our family a compassionate side that gave us comfort in the most uncomfortable of situations. Thank you very much. God Bless.

- Christian