Chief Justice Announces Suspension of Civil and Matrimonial Trials Due to Judicial Vacancies

Suspension in Vicinage 13 remains; trials to cease in Passaic Vicinage from July 31, 2023

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the New Jersey Supreme Court today issued a statement regarding the continued suspension of civil division and matrimonial trials in parts of the state due to high judicial vacancies.

Earlier this year, trials were suspended in two vicinages - Vicinage 13 (Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren counties) and Vicinage 15 (Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties) - due to a significant shortage of judges. Progress has been made in Vicinage 15, with the number of vacancies substantially reduced from nine to two out of 28 judgeships. This reduction allows for the immediate resumption of trials in that area.

However, the situation remains critical in Vicinage 13 where the number of vacancies has not decreased, resulting in the sustained suspension of civil and matrimonial trials.

The vacancy crisis extends beyond these two areas. Over the past three years, the court system has operated with an average of more than 60 vacancies. Recent confirmations have helped decrease the number of statewide vacancies to 53, but this figure still presents significant operational challenges.

The situation in Passaic Vicinage is particularly dire, with seven out of 28 judgeships currently vacant, some for multiple years. As a result, civil and matrimonial trials in the Passaic Vicinage will be suspended, barring very limited circumstances, from July 31, 2023.

The Judiciary's primary mission is to serve the public by providing a space to fairly and promptly resolve disputes. To fulfill this mission in every vicinage, Chief Justice Rabner is calling on the Executive and Legislative branches to address the urgent issue of judicial vacancies promptly.