New Jersey’s Superior Court vacancies have reached a critical 61, leaving civil and matrimonial trials in four counties in limbo. Crises in Vicinage 13 and Vicinage 15, covering six counties, have resulted in such trials being indefinitely suspended since February. Despite the state of urgency, local observers suggest that this issue is not set to change until November, raising questions about the concern demonstrated by the other two branches of government.
In detail, the Chief Justice Stuart Rabner had declared a suspension of all civil and matrimonial trials across Vicinage 13 (covering Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren counties) and Vicinage 15 (covering Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties) during February of this year. However, with such a significant number of total vacancies and an apparent lack of urgency from the government, the matter seems unlikely to be resolved swiftly.
Commenting on the issue, Patrick D. Heller, president of the Hunterdon County Bar Association, expressed uncertainty towards convincing the governor and the Senate to classify the situation as urgent. According to Mr. Heller, the procedure to give this matter the priority it requires is still unclear.
With the bench’s state possibly remaining stagnant till November and an escalating judicial vacancy crisis, how the New Jersey government reacts, could be critical to the state’s judicial system’s future.