Anthony M. Anastasio, President of the New Jersey Civil Justice Institute (NJCJI), has voiced his concerns over a new proposal to alter the selection process for appellate court judges in New Jersey. In an opinion piece for NJ.com, Anastasio criticized the proposed constitutional amendment that would shift the responsibility from the Chief Justice of New Jersey’s Supreme Court to the governor and state Senate.
Currently, the Chief Justice selects lower court judges to serve in the Appellate Division. The proposed change, according to Anastasio, risks politicizing this process and could lead to discord within New Jersey’s court system. He argued that this amendment would expose appellate courts to political infighting similar to what has caused significant judicial vacancies and backlogs in trial courts.
Anastasio emphasized that unfilled judgeships result in delayed justice for families, workers, consumers, and businesses across New Jersey.
Read the Op-Ed HERE
