As counsel for the defendant, Mitchell J. Ansell and Greg S. Gargulinski successfully argued and briefed the case of State v. Conroy before the New Jersey Appellate Division. Mr. Ansell convinced the Court to sentence a fourth offender under the drunk driving statute  (which mandates a 180-day jail term), as a second offender for custodial purposes (discretionary jail term between  2 days and 90 days). Mr. Ansell convinced the Appellate Division that the defendant was entitled to the benefit of the mandatory 10-year step-down provision afforded under the drunk driving statute because his first conviction was uncounseled and did not count for sentencing purposes pursuant to  State v. Laurick.   The New Jersey Appellate Division published its unanimous ruling on January 9, 2008. The case is pending certification by the New Jersey Supreme Court.