Supreme Court Committees

The Supreme Court benefits from the input of individuals with diverse areas of expertise, experiences, and perspectives interested in assisting the Judiciary through service on committees and other groups. The Court continues to prioritize inclusivity in the composition of its committees, including as to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and all primary aspects of identity, as well as areas of legal practice, geography, and community involvement, in order to support robust discussion and comprehensive consideration of issues.

Anyone interested in being considered by the Court for appointment should send an email to CommAppts.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Please include the following in your email: your full name, address, email address, telephone number(s), your attorney ID (if applicable), the county or counties in which you practice (for attorneys), and a selection of the committee(s) in which you are interested. If possible, also include a resumé or link to an online profile with your email. Please explain in 2-3 sentences why you want to participate in a Supreme Court committee. See this May 4, 2022 Notice for more information

This Committee accepts referrals from the Court and inquiries from members of the New Jersey bar concerning proper conduct for a member of the legal profession under the Rules of Professional Conduct and Court Rules. R. 1:19-1 et seq. It also operates the attorney ethics research assistance hotline: (609) 815-2924. Address: R.J. Hughes Justice Complex, PO Box 970, Trenton, NJ 08625.
The committee is responsible for examining and making recommendations for amendments and additions to Parts I, II and IV of the Court Rules, as well as related non-rule changes and responses to statutory amendments and new legislation related to court practice.
This Committee imposes discipline on attorneys for violation of the attorney advertising rules (RPC 7.1 through RPC 7.5) and issues advisory opinions to New Jersey lawyers regarding attorney advertising. R. 1:19A-1 et seq. It also operates the attorney ethics research assistance hotline: (609) 815-2924. Address: R.J. Hughes Justice Complex, PO Box 970, Trenton, NJ 08625.
This Committee reviews grievances regarding unauthorized practice of law and also issues advisory opinions. R. 1:22-1 et seq. Contact: (609) 815-2900 ext. 54965. Address: R.J. Hughes Justice Complex, PO Box 970, Trenton, NJ 08625.
The committee advises the Supreme Court on how the Judiciary can best assure fairness, impartiality and equal access to minority groups, including linguistic minorities; provides guidance to vicinage advisory committees on diversity, inclusion, and community engagement; and conducts studies and other research related to diversity, inclusion, and community engagement issues.
The committee considers family court procedures and recommends amendments to Part V of the Rules of Court to clarify and improve the procedures in the family courts.
The committee provides oversight of jury selection practices in both civil and criminal trials and provides a ready forum for review of proposed changes that may be generated by court decisions, committee recommendations, or other sources. It is responsible for maintaining the Judiciary’s Bench Manual on Jury Selection.
Appointed by the court to five-year terms, the trustees meet monthly to consider reimbursement of claims of misappropriation of trust funds by former clients of lawyers who have been suspended or disbarred.
The committee prepares and updates model civil jury charges and related judges’ notes. Trial judges and litigants use the model charges to provide juries with accurate and understandable instructions on the law in civil cases.
The committee develops the appropriate model language for judges to explain to juries the controlling legal principles and questions that they must decide.
The committee studies possible improvements and modifications to the Part VII Court Rules Governing the Municipal Courts and makes recommendations to the Supreme Court relating to these rules. The committee may also occasionally make non-rule recommendations to the court relating to municipal court practice.
The committee has jurisdiction to provide guidance to Judiciary employees on the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Employees. The committee includes six judges, one Surrogate, four Judiciary employees, two practicing attorneys and three public members who serve two-year terms.
The committee studies possible improvements and modifications to the New Jersey Rules of Evidence and makes recommendations to the Supreme Court relating to these Rules.
The committee provides the Supreme Court with rule and non-rule recommendations pertaining to the special civil part.
The working group advises the Supreme Court on systemic issues facing the court system in the area of domestic violence.
The committee includes members of the bench and tax bar, representatives of taxpayers' groups, local, county and state tax administrators, and others concerned with the administration and review of New Jersey tax laws. The committee examines Part VIII of the NJ Court Rules and proposes amendments and new rules to the Supreme Court.
The committee monitors the nature and extent of systemic gender bias in the court system and provides training to the bench, bar and others on the subject of gender bias to help ensure fair treatment for women in the legal system.