As state courthouses attempt to resume normal operations, they remain paralyzed by an unprecedented number of judicial vacancies. Access to justice and the number of judicial vacancies are inextricably tied. The remarkably high number of judicial vacancies combined with the backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic places an undue burden on our current judges and court operations and requires immediate action by the Legislative and Executive branches of government. Jeralyn L. Lawrence, President of the New Jersey State Bar Association, said that “access to justice is compromised” by sprawling judicial vacancies within the state.  We agree. 

Under current conditions, without action to fill the growing number of vacancies, citizens’ access to justice will continue to be delayed. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and leaders of the Bar have spent months pleading with the Senate Judiciary Committee to take action—especially given that the number of vacancies will continue to grow as many sitting judges reach the mandatory retirement age.