Most divorce and civil cases in six New Jersey counties will not be conducted as the state grapples with a shortage of judges, officials announced Tuesday.
State Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said there is an overwhelming number of judicial vacancies in Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.
“There are simply not enough judges at this time to conduct civil and matrimonial trials in either vicinage,” he said in a news release, calling the situation “particularly challenging.”
There are currently 69 vacant positions throughout the trial courts, more than one out of every six positions statewide, Rabner said. In vicinage 13, which covers Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren counties, there are five vacancies out of 20 judicial positions. Of the 28 judgeships in vicinage 15, which is comprised of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, there are nine vacancies.
“That imposes heightened responsibilities on sitting judges who handle thousands of proceedings and motions each month,” Rabner said.
For the past three years, the court has operated with an average of 50 vacancies, he added. Because of the shortage, coupled with the impact of the Covid pandemic, cases have been delayed and there are “substantial increases in backlog.” In order to best serve the public, the number of vacancies should be no higher than 25 or 30, Rabner told NorthJersey.com.
The chief justice warned in his statement that without any relief, other counties could be put in a similar situation.
The suspensions in vicinages 13 and 15 will begin on Feb. 21 with the exception of “very limited circumstances,” Rabner said without disclosing further details. New Jersey Courts did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Priority has been given to cases in which a person’s “liberty is at stake,” including criminal and juvenile delinquency matters and cases that present potential emergencies like domestic violence issues, he said.
“We recognize…
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