Bill Text: NJ A4428 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Increases number of Superior Court judgeships to support implementation of constitutional and statutory criminal justice reform, including new pretrial release and detention proceedings, and speedy trial rights; appropriates $9.3 million.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-12-19 - Substituted by S2850 [A4428 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A4428-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Increases number of Superior Court judgeships to support implementation of constitutional and statutory criminal justice reform, including new pretrial release and detention proceedings, and speedy trial rights; appropriates $9.3 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act increasing the number of Superior Court judgeships to support the criminal justice reform established by the 2014 amendment to Article I, paragraph 11 of the New Jersey Constitution and sections 1 through 11 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et seq.), amending N.J.S.2B:2-1, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.2B:2-1 is amended to read as follows:
2B:2-1. Number of Judges.
a. The Superior Court shall consist of [443] 463 judges.
b. (1) The Superior Court shall at all times consist of the following number of judges, who at the time of their appointment and reappointment were resident of each county:
Atlantic 11
Bergen 28
Burlington 10
Camden 16
Cape May 4
Cumberland 7
Essex 34
Gloucester 11
Hudson 24
Hunterdon 3
Mercer 9
Middlesex 24
Monmouth 18
Morris 16
Ocean 15
Passaic 17
Salem 3
Somerset 6
Sussex 4
Union 20
Warren 3
(2) Additionally, the following number of those judges of the Superior Court satisfying the residency requirements set forth above shall at all times sit in the county in which they reside:
Atlantic 4
Bergen 12
Burlington 4
Camden 8
Cape May 2
Cumberland 4
Essex 14
Gloucester 6
Hudson 6
Hunterdon 2
Mercer 6
Middlesex 8
Monmouth 4
Morris 6
Ocean 8
Passaic 6
Salem 2
Somerset 4
Sussex 2
Union 6
Warren 2
(cf: P.L.2008, c.26, s.1)
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Judiciary $9,300,000 for costs associated with the additional Superior Court judgeships established by this act.
3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.
STATEMENT
This bill would create 20 additional Superior Court judgeships to support implementation of the constitutional and statutory criminal justice reform established by the 2014 amendment to Article I, paragraph 11 of the New Jersey Constitution and sections 1 through 11 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et seq.). This reform, which begins January 1, 2017, includes new pretrial release and detention proceedings, and speedy trial rights.
In support of the 20 additional judgeships, the bill would appropriate $9.3 million to the Judiciary from the State's General Fund. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2017, the first day of the State's next fiscal year.
