If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. <6 " ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADM,INISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COURTS OF NEW JERSEY SEPTEMBER 1, 1977 TO AUGUST 31,1978 ABOUT THE COVER The picture on the front cover of this report is an artist's rendition of the front exterior of the New Jersey Justice Complex that is under construction on a seven~acre site at the southwest corner of Market and Warren Streets in Trenton. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Complex were held on February 21,1978. It is scheduled to be completed in 1981. The Complex will house the Supreme Court courtroom, an Appellate Division of Superior Court courtroom, chambers for several Justices and Judges, and all State~level administrative, clerical, and court support offices of the Judicial Branch; the State Attorney General's Office and its D;visions of Law and Criminal Justice, and the State Department of the Public Advocate, which includes the State Public Defender's Office. The Complex consists of three major elements: a two~level parking garage, an eight~ story office building, and a raised four~story courts facility with a visual expression separate from the office building but connected to that building by bridges within a glass~enclosed, eight-story atrium. The Complex's office and courts elements will provide 802,814 square feet. The garage will provide 2~ 6,715 square feet for the parking of 627 cars. The main circulation level of the Complex is the plaza which flows under the raised courts facility into the atrium. Pedestrians entering at ground level will be transported by escalators to the plaza level which will provide the main point of arrival and circulation for the public and the occupants of the building. From the plaza level, elevators will ascend to the upper floors and descend to the parking levels. In the courts facility component will be housed tailored spaces required by the judiciary for courtrooms, a law library, and other ancillary functions. A conference and training center for use by all of the Complex's occupants will also be provided in this structure. Space has been reserved in the Complex for a judicial data center and dedicated judiciary computer. A bridge at the plaza level of the Complex will traverse Market Street and provide pedestrian access from other State buildings. NCJRS MAY 2 1979 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACQUISITIONS ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COURTS OF NEW JERSEY SEPTEMBER 1, 1977TOAUGUST31, 1978 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS STATE OF NEW JERSEY STATE HOUSE ANNEX ARTHUR J. SI M PSON, JR. CN-037 JUDGE SUPERIOR COURT APPELLATE DIVISION TR.ENTON. NEW JER.SEY 08625 ACTING ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COURTS 609-292-4636 To the Honorable Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court: Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:12-5, I herewith submit for the court year ended August 31, 1978 this 30th Annual Report of the activities of the Administrative Office of tile Courts. It is my fifth report, under the tenure of Chief Justice Richard J. Hughes, and includes expanded photographic coverage and narrative highlight summaries, along with a digest of statistical data on caseload activity, in a single volume. An extensive statistical supplement in a separate volume will permit appropriate distribution of detailed in­ formation to those interested in such material*, while effect­ ing overall printing and publication economies. There were record high filings and dispositions, the rate of backlog growth slowed, and the quality and quantity of dispositions per judge again improved. Our court unifi­ cation project efforts resulted in the merger of the Superior and County Courts-the greatest advance since our 1947 constitution. Construction of the Justice Complex began, imaginative reform and improvement commenced under the leadership of several Associate Justices, and many in­ Judge Simpson refers to office wall chart reflecting novative programs were begun or continued. Cooperative statewide assignment of judges. efforts with the Executive and Legislative Branches, the Bar, the public, and the media have resulted in improved funding, additional judgeships, and greater understanding and as­ sistance to the Judicial Branch in providing civil, criminal, and juvenile justice services for New Jersey. I recommend a continuation of the many programs under way, as hereafter chronicled, and further efforts towards full unification including the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts and District Courts. A new foundation for modern judicial administration is now in place, ongoing programs are solving problems as they surface, and our dedicated judges and supportive staffs are the finest in the nation. A most successful court year has been concluded, but much more remains to be done. Respectfully submitted, * Available upon request to: Statistical Services Unit State House Annex-eN 037 Trenton, N.J. 08625 January 25, 1979 Table of Contents THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY .......................................................................... 1 Foreword from the Chief Justice ................................................................................... 1 A MERGER OF THE COURTS ............................................................................................... 4 The Call for Reform ......... ...... ....... ............ ......................................... ............................. 4 The Voters Approve . ..................................................................................................... 4 Immediate Effects of Merger ......................................................................................... 4 Future Court Unification ................................................................................................. 4 Family Court Part .................................................................................................... 5 Study Project ......................... ................................................................................ 6 THE COURT SYSTEM OF NEW JERSEy............................................................................. 7 CONFRONTING THE CASELOADS ......................................................................... ,............ 9 Cause for Optimism ............................ "......................................................................... 9 A Weighted Caseload Perspective ................................................................................ 9 Innovative Programs Stressed ....................................................................................... 9 On Qualitative Justice ...................................................................................................... 13 THE COST OF OPERATING THE COURTS 14 THE JUDICIARY OF NEW JERSEY ....................................................................................... 16 INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ............................................. 46 The Framework for Improvement ................................................................................. " 46 The Improvement Process at Work .............................................................................. 46 Appellate Division Reforms .................................................................................... 46 Attorney Discipline Restructuring .......................................................................... 49 Medical Malpractice Panels ................................................................................... 49 Bail Reform and PTI Extension .......................................................................... " 50 Trial Advocacy Specialization ................................................................................ 50 Attorney Advertising ............................................................................................... 50 Audio-Visual Coverage of Court Proceedings ...................................................... 50 Tax Court ................................................................................................................ 51 The Administrative Office of the Courts ........................................................................ 51 The Clerks of the Courts ................................................................................................ 51 Supreme Court ....................................................................................................... 51 Appellate Division ................................................................................................... 54 Superior Court ........................................................................................................ 55 Trial Court Administrators ............................................................................................. 56 Municipal Court Visits ............................................................................................ 56 Jury Management ................................................................................................... 57 Calendar Control .................................................................................................... 57 Data Systems .......................................................................................................... 59 Construction and Renovation ................................................................................ 59 Court Unification Project ................................................................................................ 59 Standards and