Supreme Court of New Jersey Decisions
The New Jersey Supreme Court consists of seven justices. While it was originally founded in 1776 during the American Revolution, it did not take a clear form until the New Jersey Constitution of 1844. In contrast to many other state supreme courts, it does not hold original jurisdiction over any legal matters. The Court may review an appeal from a lower court in a case involving the death penalty, a constitutional question, redistricting, or a dissent by an appellate justice. Also, it may review an appeal of a decision for which it has granted certification. In addition to its legal authority, the Court holds limited political authority. It will review and finalize a decision by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission on redistricting congressional districts if the Commission cannot reach a decision.
The Governor of New Jersey nominates candidates to serve on the Supreme Court. The New Jersey State Senate then must decide whether to confirm the nominee one week after the Governor issues a public notice of the nomination. Each justice will serve an initial seven-year term, after which the Governor will decide whether to grant indefinite tenure. The justices must be balanced between the political parties, such that neither party has an advantage of more than one seat. To qualify to serve on the Supreme Court, a candidate must have been admitted to practice law in New Jersey for at least 10 years. This is the same requirement as for Superior Court judges.
A justice may be removed from the New Jersey Supreme Court upon being impeached by the New Jersey General Assembly and convicted by the New Jersey Senate. Alternatively, the Supreme Court may inform the Governor that a justice has become incapacitated. A three-person commission will determine whether the justice should be removed on that basis.
- 2019 (47)
- 2018 (63)
- 2017 (52)
- 2016 (51)
- 2015 (75)
- 2014 (70)
- 2013 (65)
- 2012 (75)
- 2011 (70)
- 2010 (75)
- 2009 (86)
- 2008 (98)
- 2007 (96)
- 2006 (86)
- 2005 (98)
- 2004 (67)
- 2003 (94)
- 2002 (110)
- 2001 (106)
- 2000 (96)
- 1999 (123)
- 1998 (95)
- 1997 (103)
- 1996 (106)
- 1995 (105)
- 1994 (104)
- 1993 (160)
- 1992 (162)
- 1991 (158)
- 1990 (190)
- 1989 (158)
- 1988 (120)
- 1987 (124)
- 1986 (127)
- 1985 (116)
- 1984 (111)
- 1983 (102)
- 1982 (133)
- 1981 (129)
- 1980 (126)
- 1979 (140)
- 1978 (150)
- 1977 (150)
- 1976 (139)
- 1975 (118)
- 1974 (138)
- 1973 (136)
- 1972 (133)
- 1971 (153)
- 1970 (144)
- 1969 (140)
- 1968 (126)
- 1967 (126)
- 1966 (115)
- 1965 (125)
- 1964 (126)
- 1963 (122)
- 1962 (147)
- 1961 (138)
- 1960 (149)
- 1959 (133)
- 1958 (150)
- 1957 (145)
- 1956 (156)
- 1955 (158)
- 1954 (161)
- 1953 (156)
- 1952 (155)
- 1951 (149)
- 1950 (146)
Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of New Jersey
Date: August 7, 2019
Docket Number: a-13-18
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2015, defendant Charudutt Patel was charged in two separate instances with DWI. Patel had twice before been convicted of DWI. Because of the passage of more than ten years between the first and second convictions, Pat...
Date: August 6, 2019
Docket Number: a-7-18
Justia Opinion Summary: After drinking six to ten beers, defendant William Liepe drove his Ford Explorer at approximately 1:00 p.m. Traveling at about forty-five miles per hour, defendant struck the rear end of a Honda Accord waiting to make a...
Date: August 6, 2019
Docket Number: a-79-17
Justia Opinion Summary: The State indicted defendant Keith Cuff for fifty-five offenses arising from five residential robberies and an additional incident in which defendant stole a vehicle while attempting to escape from a traffic stop. A jury...
Date: August 1, 2019
Docket Number: a-73-17
Justia Opinion Summary: In September 2013, the Passaic Police Department received a 9-1-1 report of a brutally beaten body of a woman, later identified as “Katie,” in a wooded area near a river bank behind a ShopRite store. Sergeant Bordamonte,...
Date: July 31, 2019
Docket Number: a-6-18
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2010, a nine-month-old infant, J.H., suffered permanent scarring when he was burned by an uncovered, free-standing cast iron loop radiator in an apartment owned and managed by defendants R&M Tagliareni, LLC, and Rober...
Date: July 30, 2019
Docket Number: a-5-18
Justia Opinion Summary: Defendants Joey Fowler and Jamil Hearns were convicted by jury of murder. According to the State, Hearns walked up to the victim and, in an act of revenge, shot him at point-blank range. Hearns then returned to Fowler’s...
Date: July 29, 2019
Docket Number: a-78-17
Justia Opinion Summary: When a toxic disaster hits, claimants could seek relief in the form of assistance from the New Jersey Spill Fund by following promulgated claims procedures. In order to resolve disputes over denied Fund monies quickly an...
Date: July 22, 2019
Docket Number: a-59-17
Justia Opinion Summary: The primary issue before the New Jersey Supreme Court in this appeal was whether the interrogation techniques that included false promises of leniency induced defendant L.H. to confess to two alleged sexual assaults and...
Date: July 16, 2019
Docket Number: a-30-18
Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiff Frank Chiofalo, a then-member of the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), filed a complaint under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) against his employer and certain supervisors (collectively, defendan...
Date: June 20, 2019
Docket Number: a-11-18
Justia Opinion Summary: T.L. consulted Dr. Jack Goldberg for a blood condition. In October 2010, Dr. Goldberg told T.L. about a new medication, Pegasys. After taking Pegasys, T.L. experienced a number of symptoms, but Dr. Goldberg advised that...
Date: June 20, 2019
Docket Number: a-37-17
Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant Kareem Tillery was convicted of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and a fourth-degree offense. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining charges against him. The trial court sentenced...
Date: June 18, 2019
Docket Number: a-77-17
Justia Opinion Summary: In May 2011, an off-duty Newark police officer was shot and killed at a Texas Fried Chicken and Pizza Restaurant, known as the “chicken shack.” Defendant Rasul McNeil-Thomas was convicted by a jury of shooting the office...
Date: June 17, 2019
Docket Number: a-72-17
Justia Opinion Summary: Officer Corey Corbo became gravely ill while at home with his girlfriend and colleague, Officer Jessica Garcia. Garcia called 9-1-1 and later admitted that Corbo had ingested cocaine five days earlier. The paramedics rus...
Date: June 5, 2019
Docket Number: a-3-4-18
Justia Opinion Summary: At issue were claims of fraudulent sales practices by two car dealerships that allegedly induced consumers to enter into agreements for the purchase of cars. The question presented for the New Jersey Supreme Court’s revi...
