(a) Reserve Fund. The Trustees of the Fund are authorized to maintain a reasonable reserve fund. At least annually, after a reasonable reserve fund has been created, the Trustees will solicit applications for grants and award grants to those entities deemed to be meritorious under the regulations of the Fund. Grant-making decisions of the Board are final and are not subject to appeal or judicial review.
(b) Grants. Grants will be made only for the following purposes:
(1) legal aid to the poor;
(2) improvement of the administration of justice;
(3) education of lay persons in legal and justice-related areas; or
(4) such other programs for the benefit of the public as are specifically approved by the New Jersey Supreme Court from time to time.
(c) Awards. The Board of Trustees shall award:
(1) to Legal Services of New Jersey, Inc., not less than 75% of the funds available annually for grants, to be used directly by itself and, through subgrants, by its local member Legal Services programs, in conducting legal assistance activities on behalf of the poor throughout New Jersey;
(2) to the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, not less than 12.5% of the funds available annually for grants to be used for the purposes enumerated in R. 1:28A-4(b)(1)- (4) above; and
(3) to other entities deemed to be meritorious under the regulations of the Fund, the balance of the funds available annually for grants to be used for the purposes enumerated in R. 1:28A-4(b)(1)-(4) above.
The foregoing may be amended by the Supreme Court from time to time in the public interest.
(d) General Powers. In addition to the powers conferred by these Rules on the trustees, they shall have the following general powers:
(1) to receive, hold, manage, distribute, and invest the funds received by the Fund and such other funds as it may receive by voluntary contribution or otherwise;
(2) to employ and compensate consultants, agents, legal counsel, and such other employees as they deem necessary and appropriate consistent with personnel policies of the Judiciary; and
(3) to monitor and insure compliance with the provisions of this Rule.
Note: Adopted as R. 1:28A-5 February 23, 1988, to be effective March 1, 1988; renumbered as R. 1:28A-4 and amended September 15, 1992, to be effective January 1, 1993.
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