|Judicial Performance| |Judicial Education|

Judicial Performance Program: A Brief Description

Through the collection of objective, reliable, and consistent evaluation information, the Program seeks to enhance judicial performance on an individual and institutional basis.

The stated goals of the Program are as follows: 1) The improvement of judicial performance on an individual and institutional basis; 2) The enrichment of judicial educational programs; 3) The efficient assignment and use of judges within the Judiciary; and 4) The enhancement of the reappointment process.

Anonymous questionnaires are sent to attorneys who participate in actual cases before judges in the Program. Attorneys are asked to evaluate judges on over 30 performance standards in areas of legal ability, judicial management skills, and comportment.

Appellate judges are also sent anonymous questionnaires to evaluate trial court judges when their rulings are appealed.

Results of the evaluation are shared with the individual judge, assignment judge, Supreme Court, Governor, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Judicial Evaluation Commission. (The Commission is composed of nine retired judges who assist the individual judges in utilizing their evaluations.)

Where and When started:

The Program was adopted by the Supreme Court in November 1986. The Program was implemented in April 1987 and is centrally administered by staff to the Committee in Trenton.

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Through education and training, the Administrative Office of the Courts strives to enhance the ability of judges to deal with the volume of cases more expeditiously, surely and equitably than their present performance.

The New Jersey Judicial Education Program calls for the channeling of resources and energies toward the fulfillment of four primary objectives:

1. To refine the formal training activities for new judges and experienced judges with new assignments;

2. To strengthen and expand continuing education programs for all judges;

3. To develop programs which address the distinct educational needs of judges who work in highly specialized areas of the law;

4. To provide training opportunities which improve public access to and knowledge of the judicial system.

These objectives are met through the following activities:

The Orientation Program is designed to facilitate the transition of newly-appointed judges from bar to bench and to provide comprehensive training in the State's judicial practices and procedures. The Program has been expanded to ten days to assist experienced judges with new assignments in their transition from one judicial assignment to another. The Program includes an advisor judge component and access to voluminous materials including an audio-video cassette library.

The Judicial College and the Judicial Seminars provide judges with a wide range of academic programs to keep abreast of developments in the law and judicial administration. Particular attention has been paid to alcohol and substance abuse training. Judges have participated in full gamut of courses, ranging from pharmacology to treatment. Attention was also given to numerous programs on women and minorities' issues such as gender bias, minorities and the courts, sensitivity training and cultural awareness, and sexual harassment.

The Retreats for each of the divisions - Family, Civil, and Criminal - provide judges and key court support staff the opportunity to increase expertise in special areas of the law, to benefit from the knowledge of experts in particular areas of the law and law-related disciplines, and to contribute to the knowledge of their peers through participatory workshops.

The Audio-Video Library has been expanded to include virtually all educational programs. The cassettes and related materials are duplicated and made available on a loan basis to judges and court staff.

New Jersey judges and court staff participate in out-of-state programs conducted by the various national educational institutions which are acknowledged leaders in the realm of judicial education. These programs serve to complement in-state efforts and serve to broaden and strengthen the understanding and knowledge of attendees through the interchange of judicial philosophies, techniques, and procedures. Effective January 4, 1991, The Judiciary, due to budget constraints, has severely restricted out-of-state travel. The Chief Justice has authorized only limited exceptions. As soon as the budget improves, we hope to return to a more reasonable and satisfying travel policy.

Contribution to Overall Goal of Judiciary:

After a careful review of the scope and extent of judicial education in New Jersey, the 1988 Annual Report of the Family Division Practice Committee concluded that New Jersey's comprehensive approach, utilizing many different types of programs, demonstrates this State's commitment to judicial education. The Committee further stated that "New Jersey's efforts in judicial education rank it among the leaders in the country ... the importance of an ongoing program of judicial education insures that quality, not simply quantity, justice is provided."

Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education:

The Judicial Education unit works under the guidance of the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education. The committee is composed of 39 members representing judges of the civil, criminal and family divisions as well as the appellate and supreme courts. Assignment Judges and Presiding Judges are also represented as well as the three Deans of New Jersey Law Schools, private attorneys and court administrators.

The Committee is divided into subcommittees: Judicial College, Seminars, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Judges' Program, Orientation, Budget, Long Range Planning, Family.

There is direct supervision by the Administrative Director of the Courts and applicable policies of the Supreme Court are implemented by the Committee.

Major areas of responsibility of the Committee include: Curriculum development, faculty selection, and program evaluation.

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