STATE OF NEW JERSEY v. ERNEST JONES EARNEST JONES ERNEST EVERET JONES ERNEST EVERETT JONES (2017)

On January 19, 2016, in a published opinion, we affirmed defendant's conviction of fourth-degree violation of community supervision for life, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4(d). State v. Jones, 443 N.J. Super. 515, 521, 532 (App. Div.), certif. granted in part, denied in part, 227 N.J. 147 (2016). After we issued our opinion, defendant filed a petition for certification. Subsequently, the State moved before the Law Division to vacate defendant's conviction and dismiss the indictment with prejudice, which the trial judge granted. Thereafter, defendant amended his petition for certification, seeking to withdraw it and to vacate our judgment and withdraw our published opinion. The Court granted defendant's motion to withdraw his petition for certification, but denied the remaining requested relief. State v. Jones, 227 N.J. 147, 147-48 (2016). In its order, the Court stated: “[O]n the State's motion, the trial court ․ vacated defendant's conviction and dismissed the indictment with prejudice, the State having conceded that under the circumstances presented ․ , defendant should not have been indicted for violating a special condition of community supervision for life ․” Id. at 147. The Court further stated: “The Court directs the Clerk of the Court to publish this order to provide notice that defendant's judgment of conviction has been vacated.” Id. at 148.

Subsequently, defendant sought reconsideration in the Appellate Division, requesting that we vacate our prior judgment and withdraw our published opinion. We granted that motion, vacated our prior judgment, and advised that an opinion would be filed at a later date withdrawing our January 19, 2016 published opinion. Accordingly, the Law Division's vacation of defendant's conviction and dismissal with prejudice of the indictment has required that our prior judgment be vacated and our published opinion withdrawn as precedent.

PER CURIAM