Notice - Attorney-Conducted Voir Dire (ACVD) - Expansion of Pilot Program to Monmouth County Effective May 1, 2023

As part of an array of reforms designed to improve fairness and reduce the effects of bias injury selection, the Supreme Court in its July 12, 2022 Order authorized a pilot program to explore the use of attorney-conducted voir dire (ACVD). In accordance with that order, attorneys and criminal defendants in Bergen, Camden, and Middlesex Counties have been opting into and participating in the ACVD pilot program for several months

Initial feedback supports continued exploration of ACVD as an alternative to judge-led voir dire, which has been the standard in New Jersey for more than 50 years. In order to gather more such data - and in response to stakeholder support - the Supreme Court has authorized expansion of the ACVD pilot program to criminal jury trials in a fourth county - Monmouth County - starting on or after May 1, 2023.

Additional information on ACVD and other jury reforms is available on the Judiciary website at https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/jury-reforms

Questions regarding this notice should be directed to Administrative Office of the Courts Jury Management Programs at (609) 815-2900 ext. 58133.