NCJ Number
80121
Date Published
1980
Length
223 pages
Annotation
This annual report presents a summary of the activities of the judicial branch of the New Jersey State Government for court year 1980, as well as court statistics.
Abstract
Calendar clearance goals were adopted this year by the New Jersey courts. Under this new approach, cases are subject to judge management at earlier stages and the general flow of cases is more closely monitored and supervised. A total of 675,835 cases were disposed of against 655,517 new filings. This backlog reduction of 20,318 cases was the greatest ever in the court's history. Faced with mounting delays in the movement of cases to trial, the New Jersey judiciary began a major effort this year to accelerate dispositions. By the end of 1980 under the speedy trial program, almost all local planning groups had hammered out their local delay reduction programs, which, after review and occasional modification, were approved by the New Jersey Supreme Court. In addition, a new case management system was approved for experimental use for the appellate division, which is designed to streamline the movement of appeals through the appellate court. The report also discusses sentencing reform efforts, a presentence research project, control of court operations costs, efforts to reduce litigation expense, alternatives to trial, court technology, jury reform, and opening the courts to the public. Maps, tables, graphs, and pie charts are provided. A statistical supplement is appended.