The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Board of Trustees acted on several items at its July meeting.
On recommendations from various sections, the Board agreed to submit comments on the Judiciary’s proposals to remove the FM Case Management Order as an appendix to the Court Rules and amend Rule 3:26-2 to address changes in conditions of pretrial release and procedures to handle violations of monitoring. The Family Law Section opposed having the FM form stripped from the Court Rules Appendix over access to justice issues and concerns that the public would no longer have input on any changes to forms in the Appendix.
The proposed amendments on pretrial release would allow for a six-month review of a defendant’s compliance with all release conditions, and provide timeframes for handling alleged violations of monitoring. The Criminal Law Section supported the amendments, but had some recommendations for additional clarifications.
The Board supported an American Bar Association resolution that urges Congress to pass the Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act. The bill seeks to improve the security of judges, their staff and their families by creating a State Judicial Threat and Intelligence Resource Center. The U.S. Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent in June. It is currently under consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Board also voted to support the following pending legislation in the state Legislature:
A1896 Conaway / S702 Singer– a bill that adopts the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact in New Jersey, allowing dentists and dental hygienists licensed in a compact state to practice in any other compact state.
A4191 Katz / S3157 Corrado – a measure that protects access to assisted reproductive technology.
S2938 Beach – a bill that creates neutral safe exchange zones at county sheriff offices for certain custody and visitation exchanges of minor children.
S2824 Burzichelli – a bill that permits marriage or civil union license to be obtained in any municipality in the state.