Mandatory virtual grand juries in New Jersey courts, a defense lawyers’ group says in an amicus brief calling the practice unconstitutional, require defendants to give up their rights for the sake of expediency.

In its brief filed Monday in Mercer County Superior Court, where defense counsel for Omar Vega-Larregui is seeking to dismiss an indictment on drug distribution charges, the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey called for an immediate moratorium on virtual grand juries except where the defendant consents to that process.