NJ’s top court says defendant can seek sex assault victim’s mental health records

The state Supreme Court said a judge can privately look at a sexual assault victim's mental health records, reversing a lower court that previously shut that request down.

By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz

Outlets: New Jersey Monitor

Published: July 9, 2026

Words: 650

Last Updated: 1 week, 6 days ago

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The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a Bergen County man charged with sexually assaulting his niece can move ahead with getting a judge to privately look at her mental health records, reversing a lower court that previously shut that request down.

The majority in the 5-2 ruling said the trial judge who first agreed to look at the records didn’t do anything wrong in allowing it, citing a 2023 case laying out …

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