Chief Justice Stuart Rabner issued a statement Tuesday canceling all civil and matrilonial trials in two New Jersey vicinages, citing a total of 69 judicial vacancies in trial courts across the state—more than one out of every six judicial positions—and stating that the judiciary must prioritize proceedings where an individual’s liberty is at stake.

Rabner said that the judicial vacancy crisis across the state has become particularly challenging in Vicinage 13, which covers Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties, and Vicinage 15, which covers of Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. Vicinage 13 has five vacancies out of a total 20 judicial positions and Vicinage 15 has nine vacancies out of 28 total judicial positions.