No matter how they phrase it, New Jersey’s lawyers are furious about the state’s judicial vacancies. The state has 69 vacancies on the Superior Court, stopping civil and matrimonial trials in several counties around the state. Attorneys like Cory Rothbort say the state government is leaving their clients in a bind by not nominating and confirming more judges in a timely manner.
For Rakesh Malhotra, his divorce in Somerset County began in April of 2021, and he’s still waiting on a trial date. Lisa Chrystal retired from the Superior Court last year, and her spot hasn’t been filled. Retired judges like her can offer a temporary solution.
“There are many retired superior court judges, such as myself, that are now doing mediations and arbitrations. I can work with the parties on predicting what might happen if they went to court, and try to bring the parties together to a solution that they can live with,” said Chrystal.
Gov. Phil Murphy says he’s working on it. Like other state leaders, he says the state’s vetting process is partly to blame for the delay in getting judges nominated and confirmed.
