NJ Judge Shortage: Civil Trials Resume In 3 Counties, Halt In 1 Other

NEW JERSEY — As a judge vacancy continues to affect civil and divorce trials in New Jersey, court officials have given an update on where trials will soon resume — and told residents of another county that trials will be suspended.

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and the New Jersey Courts have been urging state lawmakers to fill those vacancies, as the judge shortage has persisted over the COVID-19 pandemic. In February, the state judiciary suspended divorce (matrimonial) and civil trials at courtrooms in six counties.

Judiciary officials have warned lawmakers that they needed to reduce the number of vacancies to between 25 and 30, rather than the average of 50+ they have been operating under for the past three years. Related coverage — 'Crisis' In NJ Courtrooms As Judge Shortage Persists

On July 6, Rabner reported 53 judge vacancies statewide, compared to 58 in mid-April and 69 in February. He said trials would resume in Vicinage 15, which covers Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties, "at once."

“The situation in certain parts of the state, however, continues to pose a challenge,” Rabner said.

There will be no civil or matrimonial trials in Passaic County "except for very limited circumstances" beginning July 31, as the Passaic Vicinage has seven out of 28 judge seats vacant.

And, a pause on trials remains for residents of Vicinage 13 — Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren counties.

The courts will prioritize emergencies such as domestic-violence complaints, criminal and juvenile delinquency matters, and proceedings in which a person's liberty is at stake, court officials have said in the past.

"The Judiciary’s goal is to serve the public by providing a place to resolve disputes fairly and expeditiously," said Rabner. "In order to do so in every vicinage, we respectfully ask the Executive and Legislative branches to continue to address the critical issue of judicial vacancies in a timely manner.”

In New Jersey, Murphy must nominate judges, and the State Senate must confirm them. Rabner said 23 judges are expected to retire by the end of the year.

And while new judges are getting confirmed, it is not fast enough to keep pace with retirements and to fill existing empty seats according to court officials and the New Jersey State Bar Association.

State Bar Association President Timothy F. McGougran said that "with every step forward, the Judiciary has been forced to take a step back" in addressing the shortage.

"It is unfortunate that good news in the resumption of civil and matrimonial trials in Vicinage 15 is met with another suspension and the extension of the trial moratorium in Vicinage 13," he said. "The ongoing efforts to nominate and confirm more Superior Court judges in New Jersey simply have not kept pace with the rate of vacancies."