NEW JERSEY ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COURTS, ANNUAL REPORT, 1978-79 - STATISTICAL SUPPLEMENT

• NCJ Number: 67017
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 415 pages
• Corporate Author: New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DETAILED STATISTICAL DATA ON THE OPERATION OF NEW JERSEY'S COURTS ARE PRESENTED; THE INFORMATION IS USEFUL TO THOSE INVOLVED IN PLANNING, BUDGETING, AND OPERATING THE STATE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

Abstract

EXCLUDING THE MUNICIPAL COURTS, CASES ADDED TO COURT CALENDARS DURING THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 1, 1978, THROUGH AUGUST 31, 1979, REACHED AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF 626,506 CASES. THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 6.5 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS REPORT PERIOD. CASES DISPOSED OF ALSO REACHED A RECORD LEVEL OF 618,969, AN INCREASE OF 7.2 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR. THE NUMBER OF JUDGES INCREASED TO 291. DESPITE INCREASED DISPOSITIONS, THE NUMBER OF PENDING CASES AT THE YEAR END ALSO REACHED AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF 186,182. APPEALS PENDING AT YEAR END IN THE STATE SUPREME COURT WERE REDUCED FROM 151 TO 122 DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE 214 APPEALS FILED AND CERTIFIED WERE AN INCREASE OF 21 PERCENT OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. APPEALS FILED IN THE APPELLATE DIVISION OF THE SUPERIOR COURT DECREASED BY 519 CASES. LAW DIVISION CIVIL CASES ADDED TO THE CALENDARS REACHED A RECORD HIGH OF 44,688, AN INCREASE OF 11.1 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. CRIMINAL CASES FILED TOTALED 22,198, AN INCREASE OF 8.7 PERCENT. GENERAL EQUITY CASES INCREASED BY 7.3 PERCENT TO 4,318 CASES. THE SITUATION REGARDING AGE OF ACTIVE PENDING CASES IMPROVED MARKEDLY. ON AUGUST 31, 1979, 23 PERCENT OF THE CASES WERE OVER 1-YEAR OLD, AS COMPARED WITH 33 PERCENT IN THE PRIOR YEAR. THE 739 MUNICIPAL COURT APPEALS PENDING AT YEAR AND REPRESENT A 13 PERCENT INCREASE FROM 1 YEAR AGO. JUVENILE CASE FILINGS INCREASED BY 18.7 PERCENT TO A TOTAL OF 97,110. THERE WERE 11,555 COMPLAINTS FILED AND 11,764 DISPOSITIONS CONCERNING JUVENILES IN NEED OF SUPERVISION; THERE WERE BOTH RECORD HIGHS. DOMESTIC RELATIONS AND RECIPROCAL SUPPORT COMPLAINTS INCREASED BY 10.1 PERCENT. A TAX COURT WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE REVIEW OF TAX ASSESSMENTS AND ACTIONS OF STATE AND LOCAL TAXING AGENCIES. THE COURT HANDLED 25,000 LOCAL PROPERTY TAX CASES AND 2,300 STATE CASES. A TOTAL OF 4,300,253 COMPLAINTS WERE FILED IN THE MUNICIPAL COURTS, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 4.8 PERCENT. TABLES PROVIDE THE BULK OF THE REPORT. (LWM)