NCJ Number
81541
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This is the first videotaped segment of the 1977 conference of New Jersey judges; it contains the opening remarks by the State's Chief Justice, the administrative records report, and a report on court-media relations.
Abstract
Highlighted in the opening commentary is the pending reform proposal by which county courts are to be absorbed and unified within the State court system. This is viewed as a significant step that will give New Jersey a modern, effective, nonpolitical court system, but its institution depends on an upcoming referendum. The administrative records report emphasizes coming to grips with the court backlog despite increased filings. Progress is reported on the justice complex under construction in Trenton, which will provide an adequate setting for the supreme court and other central court functions. New Jersey is deemed to be ahead of other States in its statewide use of electronic data processing of the court management system. The system is also to be used in a sentence disparity project in which data on bail, fines, and other penalties should yield specific criteria for sentencing guidelines. The report on media-court relations points out that New Jersey was the original State to ban the presence of news reporters. Some States have experimented with televising courtroom proceedings recently, and New Jersey justices should be aware of the reemergence of this issue. For tapes of the rest of the conference, see NCJ 81542-45.