New Jersey
New Jersey’s highest court is the New Jersey Supreme Court. The court has six associate justices and a chief justice, who is appointed by the governor. (Source: New Jersey Constitution)
Judicial Selection
Justices on the New Jersey Supreme Court are nominated by the governor. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. An appointed justice serves a seven-year term and may stand for reappointment for a second term that runs until mandatory retirement at age 70. To fill an interim vacancy, the governor nominates a candidate who must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. An appointed justice serves a seven-year term and may stand for reappointment to a second term until mandatory retirement.
State Constitution
New Jersey has had three state constitutions adopted between 1776 and 1947. As of January 1, 2024, it had 77 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
Filters
Paths Toward Abolishing Qualified Immunity for Violations of State Constitutional Rights
States should not adopt the federal doctrine that shields officials from liability for civil rights violations.
Three U.S. Supreme Court Cases that Transformed State Judicial Elections
Judicial elections have become major political battlegrounds — complete with dark money, special interests, and attack ads — thanks to several U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
Every State Supreme Court Justice in One Searchable Database
A new resource from the State Law Research Initiative lets users sort the nation’s high court justices by state, professional background, party affiliation, and more.
New Findings Highlight Lack of Diversity on State Supreme Courts
More data and further scholarship is needed to devise policies for promoting a state bench that adequately represents the varied background of the public.
Scholarship Roundup: End of Semester Edition
Recent articles address states taking policy questions away from courts, standing in election cases, and state shadow dockets.
The Sorry State of Disclosure for State Supreme Court Justices
A new study reveals that disclosures by state supreme court justices are frequently hard to access and lack relevant financial information.
Unpacking the Legal Challenges to Trump’s Ballot Eligibility
The vast majority of cases aiming to remove Trump from the ballot have been dismissed, but without deciding whether he’s eligible to hold the presidency.
Students and Parents Bring State Constitutional Challenges to Racial Segregation in Schools
Seventy years after Brown v. Board of Education, state constitutions may be the best path to desegregation.