A New Jersey appeals court has rejected a constitutional challenge to provisions of the Criminal Justice Reform Act that authorized a $42 million hike in court filing fees.
The 2014 fee increase, enacted to pay for various criminal justice reforms, did not violate the appropriations clause of the state constitution, contrary to the plaintiffs’ assertions, the appeals court said. Wednesday’s ruling, which upheld a decision by Law Division Judge Paul Innes of Mercer County, derails an attempt by three county bar associations to reverse the hike in fees.
