Divorce, Civil Trials To Halt In Passaic Co. Amid NJ Judge Shortage

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — The state's ongoing judge shortage will impact Passaic County beginning July 31, when divorce and civil trials will be suspended except in limited circumstances.

Seven of the 28 judgeships in the Passaic Vicinage are vacant, "and several of those positions have gone unfilled for multiple years" according to Chief Justice Stuart Rabner.

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 matrimonial and civil trials at courtrooms in two vicinages, which impacted six counties.

The Passaic Vicinage covers only one county, and handles criminal and family cases as well as civil matters. Rabner said that as of July 31, the courts will not be able to hold civil and matrimonial trials in Passaic County "except for very limited circumstances."

These circumstances can include 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.

On Wednesday, Rabner declared the upcoming suspension in the Passaic Vicinage while announcing trials would resume in Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties (Vicinage 15). Related article — NJ Judge Shortage: Civil Trials Resume In 3 Counties, Halt In 1 Other

Trials in Vicinage 13 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties) will also remain suspended, Rabner said.

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

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.

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.

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.

"The upcoming moratorium in Passaic County will directly impact families in custody, parenting time and child support disputes, and leave civil litigants – including victims of discrimination, automobile injuries and medical malpractice – with little recourse as their cases stall," he said.