Representative Cases and Trials

A.S. v. A.S., (Middlesex County Chancery Division, 2012) (Client awarded primary physical custody of his 4 year old daughter after hotly contested plenary hearing).

State v. Harrington, (Morris County Law Div. 2010) (Client acquitted after jury trial on charges of Aggravated Assault).

State v. Oreckinto, (Morris County Law Div. 2010) (All charges against client for $100,000 copper theft, burglary, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief dismissed after filing motion to dismiss analyzing the insufficiency of the State’s case).

State v. Byrd, 198 N.J. 319 (2009) (Represented the New Jersey Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys as Amicus Curiae in a case holding that the admission of hearsay evidence under the forfeiture by wrongdoing doctrine does not offend the constitutional right to Confrontation of witnesses).

State v. Sweet, 195 N.J. 357 (2008) (Represented the New Jersey Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys as Amicus Curiae in case holding that ampoule testing certificates and breath testing instrument inspection certificates are admissible under the business records exception to the hearsay rule and are not testimonial statements for purposes of the Confrontation Clause).

State v. Jason Meyer , 192 N.J. 421 (2007) (Representing the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amicus Curiae in case expanding eligibility criteria for defendants wishing to participate in the States Drug Court programs).

State v. Johnel Dunlap, 185 N.J. 543 (2006) (Representing the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amicus Curiae in case holding that the New Jersey state constitution prohibits the warrantless search of an automobile as an incident to arrest where the Defendant has been removed from the vehicle and secured when the search is performed).

State v. David Lewis, Docket No. A-6073-02T5, (App. Div. 2004) (Reversing Client’s conviction for sexual contact where State’s expert on Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome improperly tracked the testimony of the alleged victim and the Prosecutor’s comments in summation improperly vouched for the credibility of the alleged victim and improperly invoked the events of September 11, 2001).

State v. P.H., 353 N.J. Super. 527 (App. Div.), aff’d, 178 N.J. 378 (2002) (Reversing Client’s conviction for sexual assault finding that trial court’s instruction to jury that it could not consider the alleged victim’s failure to complain when assessing her credibility deprived Defendant of his constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial).

State v. E.B., 348 N.J. Super. 336 (App. Div.), cert. denied, 174 N.J. 192 (2002) (Reversing Client’s conviction for sexual assault finding that trial court’s exclusion of exculpatory testimony from a Division of Youth and Family Services caseworker deprived Defendant of his federal and state constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial).

State v. Petrozelli, 351 N.J. Super. 14 (App. Div. 2002) (Reversing trial court’s denial of Client’s request for a hearing on motion for a new trial alleging, inter alia, ineffective assistance of counsel. Conviction vacated on remand after evidentiary hearing held).

Wilde v. Wilde, 341 N.J. Super. 381 (App. Div. 2001) (Represented biological parent in case of first impression regarding the right of parents to object to grandparent visitation).

State v. Russo, 333 N.J. Super. 119 (App. Div. 2000) (Reversing the trial court’s decision denying Client, a Newark Police Officer, request for an evidentiary hearing on his motion for a new trial and petition for post-conviction relief alleging, inter alia, prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel. Charges dismissed after evidentiary hearing held).

State v. Brady, 332 N.J. Super. 445 (App. Div.), cert.. denied, 165 N.J. 606 (2000). (Represented Client on State’s appeal from decision of the trial court holding that statute prohibiting transmission of child pornography via Internet was unconstitutionally vague).

Co-Counsel for David Ford in State v. Ford. Acquittal obtained in March, 1999 on all counts of indictment charging a Florham Park school teacher with 25 counts of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

F.G. v. MacDonell, 150 N.J. 550 (1997) (Supreme Court case of first impression in New Jersey regarding whether members of the clergy are liable for sexual misconduct with parishioners)

Attorney
Sharon Bittner Kean

ISLN: 912601432
Principal

Practice Areas
Criminal Law; Family Law; Appeals

Admitted: 1996, New Jersey, New York, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey and U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; 2004, U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Law School: Rutgers University, J.D.

Bar Admissions

Admitted to practice in:

State of New Jersey
State of New York
United States District Court of New Jersey
United States Court of Federal Claims

Professional Activities And Memberships

Trustee, Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
(Represent Association as amicus curiae on several cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court).
Member, Morris County Bar Association
Member, New Jersey State Bar Association
Co-author of amicus petition and brief to United States Supreme Court on behalf of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, May 1998.
Willard C. Heckel Inn of Court, Rutgers Law School 1996 – 1998

Biography:

Law Firm of Sharon Bittner Kean established 2004;
Zegas & Kean, L.L.C., Chatham, New Jersey, 1996-2004
Law Clerk to the Honorable Sybil R. Moses, A.J.S.C., Superior Court, 1995-1996,
United States Attorney’s Office, Civil Division, Intern 1994
Rutgers Constitutional Litigation Clinic 1993 to 1994
Bergen County Office of the Public Defender, Intern 1993 to 1994,
Executive Editor, Women’s Rights Law Reporter,
Rutgers Law School Award for Commitment to Pro Bono Service,
Davis Polk & Wardwell, Paralegal 1988-1992.

Education:

Rutgers University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1995
Executive Editor, Women’s Rights Law Reporter
Rutgers Law School Award for Commitment to Pro Bono Service

Northeastern University, Boston, M.A.
Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude
Political Science Major, Business Ad