In the State of New Jersey, specifically in Bergen County, a rising issue of judicial vacancies is exacerbating the already strained judiciary system, prompting an increased reliance on mediations. Occupying a quarter of all trial court judgeships, current vacancies have bred not only escalating frustration among litigators, but also reluctant praise for the remaining judges tackling the proliferate case backlog.
Bergen County is the most densely populated in the state, housing nearly a million residents and 38 operative judgeships subtracting the three appellate division judges from the total number of 41. Learn more about this spiraling situation here.
A phenomenon underlying the exodus of judges may be tied to the economic benefits of alternative roles such as mediation. For instance, upon pension eligibility, the combined financial inflow from their pension along with earnings from mediation substantially overdraws what they would typically earn as a full-time judge. This insight comes from William Strasser, President of the Bergen County Bar Association, who weighed in on why the shortage could be luring judges away from the bench.