Highest Court
The highest court in New Jersey is the Supreme Court of New Jersey. The Supreme Court consists of 7 justices. It has jurisdiction over (1) Final appeal in constitutional questions, capital causes, certifications, dissents in Appellate Division, and as provided by law.
Intermediate Courts
Appellate Division of Superior
Court
The Appellate Division of Superior
Court consists of 34 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Appeals from
lower courts except Municipal Courts and from administrative agencies except
Wage and Hour Section of Labor and Industry.
General Courts
Superior Court: Law Division
and Chancery Division
The Superior Court consists of 441
judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Criminal Division Jury Trial.
(2) Law Division, Jury Trial - hears civil claims over $10,000. (3) Civil
Division Jury Trial, Special Civil Part- hears civil cases up to $10,000,
small claims up to $2,000, and summary landlord tenant. (4) General Equity
Division - hears general equity matters. (5) Family Division - hears matrimonial,
juvenile, support, custody, and domestic violence.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.
Limited Courts
Tax Court
The Tax Court consists of 12 judges.
It has jurisdiction over (1) Local property tax assessments. (2) State
tax assessments. (3) Equalization tables promulgated by the director of
the Division of Taxation or the County Boards of Taxation.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.
Surrogates Court
The Surrogates Court consists of
21 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Uncontested probate and to serve
as Deputy Clerk of Superior Court for probate matters.
Municipal Court
The Municipal Court consists of
380 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Probable cause hearings on indictable
offenses, traffic, minor criminal, ordinance violations, fish and game,
and navigation violations.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.
Additional Information
Court Technology Improvement
Fund
The Court Technology Improvement
Fund is to be used to develop, establish, operate, and maintain the computerized
court information systems in the Judiciary Branch of the New Jersey State
Courts. This non lapsing fund shall receive monies from the increase
in fees collected by the Judiciary pursuant to sections 25 through 32 of
P.L. 2002, 34 (NJS 22A:2-1 et al.) and related increases provided by operation
of N.J.S.22A:2-5 and section 2 of P.L.1993, c.74 (C.22A:5-1).
(New Jersey Statute 2B:1-6)
Assignment of Superior Court
judges
A judge of the Superior Court may
be assigned temporarily by the Chief Justice to any court established by
statute and exercise all the powers of that court. (New Jersey Statute
2B:2-2)
Judge seeking elective office
A justice or judge of any court
of this State, who becomes a candidate for an elective public office, thereby
forfeits judicial office, but this section shall not apply to a surrogate.
(New Jersey Statute 2B:2-3) S
Interpreters
For the use of "interpreting services"
(services to assist a developmentally disabled person---defined in section
3 of P.L. 1977, c 82 {C.30:6D-3} and to assist a hearing impaired person),
each county shall provide interpreters for cases from their Law Division
and Family Part of the Chancery Division. Interpreters shall be appointed
and assigned by the Chief Justice. Interpreters shall be considered
county employees. (New Jersey Statute 2B:8-1)
Chief judge
A chief judge shall be assigned
by the municipality or county when said municipality or county has one
or more judge. The chief judge shall designate the time and place
of court and assign cases.
(New Jersey Statute 2B:12-8)
Presiding judge of the municipal
courts
If the Chief Justice designates
a judge of the Superior Court or a judge of one of the municipal courts
in a vicinage to serve as presiding judge of the municipal courts for that
vicinage, that judge may exercise powers delegated by the Chief Justice
or established by the Rules of Court. If the presiding judge is a municipal
court judge, the presiding judge shall be paid by the State for the time
devoted to duties as Presiding Judge, unless that judge is also assigned
duties at the request of a county, in which case compensation, pension
and other benefits shall be as determined by the Assignment Judge and the
governing body of the county, with the approval of the Chief Justice.
(New Jersey Statute 2B:12-9)
