FISCALYEAR 2022-2023 - New Jersey Legislature
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FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023
A N A LY S I S O F T H E N E W J E R S E Y B U D G E T
THE JUDICIARY
Prepared by the
New Jersey Legislature
c e ooff L E G I S L AT I V E S E R V I C E S
O f f iice
April 2022NEW JERSEY STATE LEGISLATURE
S E N AT E B U D G E T A N D A P P R O P R I AT I O N S C O M M I T T E E
Paul A. Sarlo (D), 36th District (Parts of Bergen and Passaic), Chair
Sandra B. Cunningham (D), 31st District (Part of Hudson), Vice-Chair
Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D), 5th District (Parts of Camden and Gloucester)
Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (D), 18th District (Part of Middlesex)
Linda R. Greenstein (D), 14th District (Parts of Mercer and Middlesex)
Gordon M. Johnson (D), 37th District (Part of Bergen)
Declan J. O’Scanlon, Jr. (R), 13th District (Part of Monmouth)
Steven V. Oroho (R), 24th District (All of Sussex, and parts of Morris and Warren)
M. Teresa Ruiz (D), 29th District (Part of Essex)
Michael L. Testa, Jr. (R), 1st District (All of Cape May, parts of Atlantic and Cumberland)
Samuel D. Thompson (R), 12th District (Parts of Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Andew Zwicker (D), 16th District (Parts of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset)
G E N E R A L A S S E M B LY B U D G E T C O M M I T T E E
Eliana Pintor Marin (D), 29th District (Part of Essex), Chair
Benjie E. Wimberly (D), 35th District (Parts of Bergen and Passaic), Vice Chair
Daniel R. Benson (D), 14th District (Parts of Mercer and Middlesex)
Annette Chaparro (D), 33rd District (Parts of Hudson)
Herb Conaway Jr. (D), 7th District (Part of Burlington)
Aura K. Dunn (R), 25th District (Parts of Morris and Somerset)
John F. McKeon (D), 27th District (Parts of Essex and Morris)
Raj Mukherji (D), 33rd District (Part of Hudson)
Nancy F. Muñoz (R), 21st District (Parts of Morris, Somerset and Union)
Carol A. Murphy (D), 7th District (Part of Burlington)
Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D), 15th District (Parts of Hunterdon and Mercer)
Brian E. Rumpf (R), 9th District (Parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
Gary S. Schaer (D), 36th District (Parts of Bergen and Passaic)
Gerry Scharfenberger (R), 13th District (Part of Monmouth)
Harold J. “Hal” Wirths (R), 24th District (All of Sussex, and parts of Morris and Warren)
O F F I C E O F L E G I S L AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Thomas Koenig, Legislative Budget and Finance Officer
Kim M. Clemmensen, Assistant Legislative Budget and Finance Officer
Maureen McMahon, Director, Central Staff
Wendy S. Whitbeck, Section Chief, Judiciary Section
This report was prepared by the Judiciary Section of the Office of Legislative Services under the
direction of the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer.
The primary author was Anuja Pande Joshi.
Questions or comments may be directed to the OLS Judiciary Section
(Tel: 609-847-3865) or the Legislative Budget and Finance Office (Tel: 609-847-3105).THE JUDICIARY
Budget Pages ....... C-7, C-15, C-23, D-449 to D-456
The data presented in this Office of Legislative Services Budget Analysis reflect 12-month
fiscal years beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the subsequent year.
Fiscal Summary ($000)
Adjusted Percentage
Expended Appropriation Recommended Change
FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 2022-23
State Budgeted $729,001 $852,097 $852,097 0.0%
Federal Funds 108,172 123,335 119,744 (2.9%)
All Other Funds 66,914 82,916 73,525 (11.3%)
Grand Total $904,087 $1,058,348 $1,045,366 (1.2%)
Personnel Summary - Positions By Funding Source
Percentage
Actual Revised Funded Change
FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 2022-23
State 7,357 7,058 7,054 (0.1%)
Federal 1,180 1,090 1,202 10.3%
All Other 203 199 198 (0.5%)
Total Positions 8,740 8,347 8,454 1.3%
FY 2021 (as of December) and revised FY 2022 (as of January) personnel data reflect actual payroll counts. FY 2023 data reflect the
number of positions funded.
Link to Website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/budget-finance/governors-budgetThe Judiciary FY 2022-2023
Highlights
• The Governor’s FY 2023 Budget provides a total of $1.05 billion for the Judiciary, a net
reduction of $13.0 million (1.2 percent) from FY 2022. The decrease is due to a reduction
in federal funds of $3.6 million (2.9 percent) and All Other Funds by $9.4 million (11.3
percent). State General Fund appropriations are recommended to remain the same at
$852.1 million.
• The Governor’s FY 2023 Budget recommends an unchanged $67.2 million appropriation
for the New Jersey Drug Court Program, which in early 2022 was renamed the New
Jersey Recovery Court Program. Of that appropriation, an unchanged $38.9 million
would be transferred to the Department of Human Services for treatment services.
• The changes in the recommended FY 2023 federal funds appropriation for components
of the State Court system are attributed to changes in the allocations of federal funds the
State expects to receive under the federal Title IV-D Child Support and Paternity Program.
In all, the Governor recommends a combined $119.7 million in federal funds. Consistent
with a long-term trend of declining numbers of child support cases, the Governor’s FY
2023 Budget anticipates a reduction of 14,220 child support cases, or 6.0 percent, to
222,802 cases in FY 2023.
• Off-budget, dedicated Automated Traffic System for Municipal Courts revenues are
projected to increase by $500,000 to $20 million in FY 2023 to manage the backlog of
cases, which at the end of February 2022 reached 1,738,521 cases, including 1,489,172
traffic and parking violation cases. The remaining cases were comprised of disorderly
persons offences and local ordinance violations.
• The FY 2023 Governor’s Budget recommends a reduction to the Electronic Access
Program of $10.4 million to reflect post pandemic normalization of the use of the
program and revenue collection.
• Foreclosure Mediation Program dedicated revenues increased by $100,000 from $1.0
million in FY 2022 to $1.1 million in FY 2023 and more than doubled from $469,000 in
FY 2021. The Foreclosure Mediation Program is funded through foreclosure complaint
fees and sanctions for lack of prosecution pursuant to N.J.S.A 2A:50-74. Due to the
pandemic, there was a significant reduction in the number of new foreclosure complaints
filed. Additionally, given the moratorium imposed by Executive Order No. 106 of 2020
and the federal forbearance, foreclosure matters remained dismissed as lenders and
homeowners worked out loss mitigation possibilities. According to the Judiciary, since
the moratoria have been lifted or expired, there is an increase in the number of new
complaints and reinstated cases consistent with the revenue increases.
• The Judiciary counted 71 vacancies for judges, as of March 2022 with 23 additional
anticipated vacancies through December 2022, bringing the total to 94.
Background Paper:
Judicial Case Backlog .……………………………….……………………………………………………... p.8
2The Judiciary FY 2022-2023
Fiscal and Personnel Summary
AGENCY FUNDING BY SOURCE OF FUNDS ($000)
Adj.
Expended Approp. Recom. Percentage Change
FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 2021-23 2022-23
General Fund
Direct State Services $729,001 $852,097 $852,097 16.9% 0.0%
Grants-In-Aid 0 0 0 -- --
State Aid 0 0 0 -- --
Capital Construction 0 0 0 -- --
Debt Service 0 0 0 -- --
Sub-Total $729,001 $852,097 $852,097 16.9% 0.0%
Property Tax Relief Fund
Direct State Services $0 $0 $0 -- --
Grants-In-Aid 0 0 0 -- --
State Aid 0 0 0 -- --
Sub-Total $0 $0 $0 -- --
Casino Revenue Fund $0 $0 $0 -- --
Casino Control Fund $0 $0 $0 -- --
State Total $729,001 $852,097 $852,097 16.9% 0.0%
Federal Funds $108,172 $123,335 $119,744 10.7% (2.9%)
Other Funds $66,914 $82,916 $73,525 9.9% (11.3%)
Grand Total $904,087 $1,058,348 $1,045,366 15.6% (1.2%)
PERSONNEL SUMMARY - POSITIONS BY FUNDING SOURCE
Actual Revised Funded Percentage Change
FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 2021-23 2022-23
State 7,357 7,058 7,054 (4.1%) (0.1%)
Federal 1,180 1,090 1,202 1.9% 10.3%
All Other 203 199 198 (2.5%) (0.5%)
Total Positions 8,740 8,347 8,454 (3.3%) 1.3%
FY 2021 (as of December) and revised FY 2022 (as of January) personnel data reflect actual payroll counts. FY 2023 data reflect the
number of positions funded.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DATA
Total Minority Percentage 46.6% 47.2% 48.7% ---- ----
3The Judiciary FY 2022-2023
Significant Changes/New Programs ($000)
Federal Funds
Budget Page: D-455
Family Courts
FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 Change
Expended Expended Adj. Approp. Recomm. FY 2022 – FY 2023
$35,933 $33,447 $41,733 $40,402 ($1,331) (3.2%)
Federal Funds
Budget Page: D-455
Probation Services
FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 Change
Expended Expended Adj. Approp. Recomm. FY 2022 – FY 2023
$64,859 $68,598 $78,727 $74,731 ($3,996) (5.1%)
Federal Funds
Budget Page: D-455
Trial Court Services
FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 Change
Expended Expended Adj. Approp. Recomm. FY 2022 – FY 2023
$4,850 $3,872 $2,875 $4,611 $1,736 60.4%
TOTAL: Title IV-D Child Support and Paternity Program
FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 Change
Expended Expended Adj. Approp. Recomm. FY 2022 – FY 2023
$105,820 $108,172 $123,335 $119,744 ($3,591) (2.9%)
The changes in the recommended FY 2023 federal funds appropriations for the above
components of the State Court system are attributable to reallocations of federal funds the State
expects to receive under the federal Title IV-D Child Support and Paternity Program. In all, the
Governor recommends a combined $119.7 million federal funds appropriation for the Judiciary’s
portion of the program in FY 2023, a $3.6 million reduction from the FY 2022 adjusted
appropriation reflecting the continuation of a long-term caseload decline.
The Title IV-D Child Support and Paternity Program, established in 1975, is a Federal-State
partnership whose primary mission is to enforce child support obligations against non-custodial
parents. Under Title IV, Part D of the federal Social Security Act of 1975, the federal government
reimburses states and counties for 66 percent of the cost of conducting child support activities.
In addition, the federal government provides incentive payments to states to encourage them to
operate a strong performance-based child support system, which can increase the federal share
of total expenditures beyond the base 66 percent rate. The Department of Human Services
administers the Title IV-D Child Support and Paternity Program grant in New Jersey. Anticipated
federal reimbursements for all elements of the Child Support Enforcement Program are
anticipated to decline by $3.6 million from $181.5 million in FY 2022 to $177.9 million in FY
2023.
4The Judiciary FY 2022-2023
Significant Changes/New Programs ($000) (Cont’d)
Additionally, Child Support and Paternity Title IV-D child support collections are estimated to
remain flat at $1.29 billion and child support cases are anticipated to decline by 14,220, or 6
percent in FY 2023. Furthermore, child support cases have declined by 20 percent since 2018.
All Other Funds
Budget Page: D-456
Supreme Court
FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 Change
Expended Expended Adj. Approp. Recomm. FY 2022 – FY 2023
$17,102 $17,350 $19,435 $20,055 $620 3.2%
This budget line represents expenditures from dues collected from member lawyers and law
firms. The Administrative Office of the Courts anticipates that these dedicated funds will increase
by the following amounts in FY 2023: the Disciplinary Oversight Committee ($250,000), the
New Jersey Lawyers for Client Protection ($200,000), the Board on Attorney Certification
($45,000), and the Board of Bar Examiners and Mandatory Continuing Legal Education
($125,000). Accordingly, the FY 2023 Governor’s Budget recommends a $620,000
augmentation to this account.
All Other Funds
Budget Page: D-456
Municipal Courts
FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 Change
Expended Expended Adj. Approp. Recomm. FY 2022 – FY 2023
$25,093 $19,353 $19,510 $20,010 $500 2.6%
This budget line represents dedicated, Municipal Courts revenue from the Automated Traffic
System for Municipal Courts. The anticipated proposed increase is attributable to aligning
revenue expectations with the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions and the return to the normal
trend of traffic operations and hence, the ensuing vehicle traffic violations and resultant effects
on municipal court operations. The Administrative Office of the Courts indicates that the total
backlog of municipal cases at the end of February 2022 was 1,738,521, of which 1,489,172
were traffic and parking violation cases. The remaining cases are attributable to disorderly person
offenses and local ordinance violations. Accordingly, the FY 2023 Governor’s Budget
recommends a $500,000 augmentation to this account to manage the workload.
5The Judiciary FY 2022-2023
Significant Changes/New Programs ($000) (Cont’d)
All Other Funds
Budget Page: D-456
Information Services
FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 Change
Expended Expended Adj. Approp. Recomm. FY 2022 – FY 2023
$26,095 $25,533 $38,700 $28,300 ($10,400) (26.9%)
The FY 2023 Governor’s Budget recommends a reduction of $10.4 million to this account to
reflect post-pandemic normalization of the use of the Electronic Access Program and revenue
collection.
According to the Administrative Office of the Courts, prior to the pandemic, court customers
accessed court records through terminals physically available at court locations at no cost.
During the pandemic, all court customers were required to utilize the pay-as-you-go web-based
Electronic Access Program to search for Criminal, Family, and Civil records. This resulted in
temporary increase in revenue. The Administrative Office of the Courts indicates that while
public access to terminals that are located in the vicinages and in the Superior Court Clerk’s
Office currently remains unavailable for in-person use, once physical access is restored to those
terminals, revenue collection for the Electronic Access Program will return to normal levels, in
FY 2023 resulting in the projected decrease.
6The Judiciary FY 2022-2023
Significant Language Changes
The Governor’s FY 2023 Budget recommendation for the Judiciary does not contain
any significant changes in language provisions when compared to the FY 2022
Appropriations Act.
EXPLANATION: FY 2022 language not recommended for FY 2023 denoted by strikethrough.
Recommended FY 2023 language that did not appear in FY 2022 denoted by underlining.
7The Judiciary FY 2022-2023
Background Paper: Judicial Case Backlog
Judicial Case Backlog
100,000
90,000 87,026
85,052
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000 25,521
22,992 22,315
20,000
10,000
0
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Case Backlog
Source: Administrative Office of the Courts1
The Judiciary has been reporting substantial growth in the backlog of court cases in the
last few years prior to and specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the peak of the pandemic, the Judiciary noted that from February 2020 to February
2021, excluding multi-county litigation cases (also known as “mass tort” cases), the
backlog of cases increased 281.2 percent
With the resumption of somewhat normal court operations, the growth in the overall
backlog2 (excluding multicounty litigation) slowed to 2.3 percent from February 2021 to
February 2022.
1
Backlog as of February 1st of each year. https://www.njcourts.gov/public/backlogcurrent.html
2
Backlog refers to cases that remain open beyond the self-imposed time goals that the Judiciary has established for each case type.
8The Office of Legislative Services provides nonpartisan assistance to the State Legislature
in the areas of legal, fiscal, research, bill drafting, committee staffing and administrative
services. It operates under the jurisdiction of the Legislative Services Commission, a
bipartisan body consisting of eight members of each House. The Executive Director
supervises and directs the Office of Legislative Services.
The Legislative Budget and Finance Officer is the chief fiscal officer for the Legislature.
The Legislative Budget and Finance Officer collects and presents fiscal information
for the Legislature; serves as Secretary to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee;
attends upon the Appropriations Committees during review of the Governor’s Budget
recommendations; reports on such matters as the committees or Legislature may direct;
administers the fiscal note process and has statutory responsibilities for the review of
appropriations transfers and other State fiscal transactions.
The Office of Legislative Services Central Staff provides a variety of legal, fiscal, research
and administrative services to individual legislators, legislative officers, legislative
committees and commissions, and partisan staff. The central staff is organized under the
Central Management Unit into ten subject area sections. Each section, under a section
chief, includes legal, fiscal, and research staff for the standing reference committees of the
Legislature and, upon request, to special commissions created by the Legislature.
The central staff assists the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer in providing services
to the Appropriations Committees during the budget review process.
Individuals wishing information and committee schedules on the
FY 2023 budget are encouraged to contact:
Legislative Budget and Finance Office
State House Annex
Room 140, PO Box 068
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 847-3105 · Fax (609) 777-2442You can also read
