N.J. Stat. tit. 2B, ch. 1

N.J. Stat. tit. 2B, ch. 1
in effect

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-1 Seals

2B:1-1. Seals. The Supreme Court shall prescribe the form of its seal and the seals of the Superior Court and Tax Court. Each municipal court shall prescribe the form of its seal with the approval of the Supreme Court. Source: N.J.S.2A:6-7; N.J.S.2A:11-1. L.1991,c.119,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-2 Preservation of court records

2B:1-2. Preservation of Court Records. The Supreme Court may adopt regulations governing the retention, copying and disposal of records and files of any court or court support office. Source: N.J.S.2A:6-45, N.J.S.2A:6-46; N.J.S.2A:11-48 through N.J.S.2A:11-53; C.2A:11-53.1 to 2A:11-53.3 (P.L.1957, c.50, s.6-8). L.1991,c.119,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-3 Criminal history record information.

2B:1-3. Criminal History Record Information. The Supreme Court is authorized to receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for use in licensing and disciplining attorneys-at-law of this State. Each applicant for licensure shall submit to the Board of Bar Examiners the applicant's name, address, fingerprints and written consent for a criminal history record background check to be performed. The Board of Bar Examiners is authorized to receive criminal history record information from the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation consistent with applicable State and federal laws, rules and regulations. The applicant shall bear the cost for the criminal history record background check, including all costs of administering and processing the check. L. 1991, c.119, s.1; amended 2003, c.199, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-4 Electronic access to court records

1. Electronic Access to Court Records. a. The Administrative Office of the Courts is authorized to develop and operate an automated data processing system that allows the public to access court information and to file court documents, pursuant to such directives, rules and regulations as the Supreme Court may adopt. b. Individuals, organizations or governmental agencies who request automated or electronic access through common carrier telephone company communications to computerized record information maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Judiciary, or who request the option to file legal court case information using a computer-to-computer link through common carrier telephone company communication, in addition to any other applicable fees, shall pay for the cost of this service according to fee schedules adopted by the Supreme Court. c. The proceeds collected by the Administrative Office of the Courts pursuant to this act shall be deposited in the "Court Computer Information System Fund" which is hereby established as a separate fund in the General Fund, to be administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts and dedicated to the development, establishment, operation and maintenance of computerized court information systems in the Judiciary. d. Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court, the Administrative Office of the Courts is authorized to contract with governmental agencies or corporations for their assistance in the development, establishment, operation and maintenance of the automated system created in accordance with this act. Such assistance may include the initial collection of user fees and other proceeds for the system and may be paid for from the fees and proceeds collected under this act. The net fees and proceeds so collected shall be deposited in the "Court Computer Information Systems Fund" created by this act. L.1994,c.54,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-5 Electronic payment systems established by courts.

6. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the Supreme Court, the Superior Court and the Tax Court, and the various municipal and joint municipal courts when permitted by resolution of the appropriate municipal governing bodies, are authorized to establish systems to accept the payment of civil and criminal fines and penalties and other judicially imposed financial obligations by credit or debit card based payment, electronic funds transfer, or any other electronic method deemed feasible by the Supreme Court. b. No person or organization that is a defendant in a criminal matter shall be entitled to offer a credit card for the payment of bail or for the payment of fines or penalties related to the imposition of a sentence, for a crime of the first, second or third degree under Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. c. If not legally prohibited by an association, financial institution, or a card issuer, the Administrative Office of the Courts, pursuant to the Rules of Court, is authorized to assess, collect, and pay service charges and other costs resulting from the collection of filing fees, administrative fees, judicially imposed financial obligations, and related charges owed to a court when parties process these fees, judicially imposed financial obligations, and related charges using credit cards, debit cards, electronic funds transfer systems, or any other electronic method deemed feasible by the Supreme Court. Any service charges and other costs assessed and collected by the Administrative Office of the Courts pursuant to this section with the exception of those charges or costs assessed and collected on behalf of municipal and joint municipal courts, shall be deposited in the "Court Computer Information System Fund" established by subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.1994, c.54 (C.2B:1-4). d. The Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey shall adopt Rules of Court appropriate or necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. L.1995, c.325, s.6; amended 2014, c.31, s.16.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-6 "Court Technology Improvement Fund"

33. Revenue derived from the increase in fees collected by the Judiciary pursuant to sections 25 through 32 of P.L.2002, c.34 (N.J.S.22A:2-1 et al.) and related increases provided by operation of N.J.S.22A:2-5 and section 2 of P.L.1993, c.74 (C.22A:5-1), shall be deposited into a non-lapsing "Court Technology Improvement Fund," which is hereby established as a dedicated fund in the General Fund. The fund shall be administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts and dedicated to the development, establishment, operation and maintenance of computerized court information systems in the Judiciary. L.2002,c.34,s.33.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-7 Adoption of Rules of Court.

12. a. The Supreme Court, subject to the limitations set forth in subsection b. of this section, may adopt Rules of Court to revise or supplement filing fees and other statutory fees payable to the court for the sole purpose of funding: (1) the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide Pretrial Services Program; (2) the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide digital e-court information system; and (3) the provision to the poor of legal assistance in civil matters by Legal Services of New Jersey and its affiliates. b. All existing filing fees and other statutory fees payable to the court on the effective date of this section shall not be increased or supplemented more than $50 in the aggregate for each fee beginning on the effective date of this section. c. As used in sections 12 through 19 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-7 through C.2B:1-13): "Digital e-court information system" shall mean a Statewide integrated system that includes but is not limited to electronic filing, electronic service of process, electronic document management, electronic case management, electronic financial management, and public access to digital court records; and "Pretrial Services Program" shall mean the pretrial services program established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-25). L.2014, c.31, s.12.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-8 Public announcement of rules, delivery of copies.

13. The rules proposed pursuant to section 12 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-7) shall be publicly announced by the Supreme Court. On the same day on which the rule or rules are publicly announced, the Supreme Court shall deliver true copies to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Governor. The Supreme Court shall provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to comment on the proposed rule or rules. The rule or rules shall take effect on the date provided by the Supreme Court. L.2014, c.31, s.13.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-9 "21st Century Improvement Fund."

14. a. There is established in the General Fund a dedicated, non-lapsing fund to be known as the "21st Century Justice Improvement Fund," which shall be credited annually with a sum equal to the revenue to be derived annually from the incremental amount of any filing fees or other statutory fees payable to the court that are revised or supplemented pursuant to sections 12 and 13 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-7 and C.2B:1-8) and the related fee revisions as provided by operation of N.J.S.22A:2-5 and section 2 of P.L.1993, c.74 (C.22A:5-1). The fund shall be administered by the State Treasurer. Interest and other income earned on monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Monies credited to the fund shall be appropriated annually and used exclusively for the purposes of funding: (1) the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide Pretrial Services Program; (2) the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide digital e-court information system; and (3) the provision to the poor of legal assistance in civil matters by Legal Services of New Jersey and its affiliates. b. Any amount remaining in the fund after the appropriation of funds as provided in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) of subsection a. of this section shall be retained by the Judiciary for the purpose of developing, maintaining and administering the Pretrial Services Program or for court information technology. The monies credited to the fund shall not be used for any purpose other than those purposes set forth in this section and section 15 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-10). L.2014, c.31, s.14.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-10 Allocation of monies.

15. Monies annually credited in the "21st Century Justice Improvement Fund" shall be allocated as follows: a. $22 million credited annually to the fund shall be appropriated annually to the Judiciary to be used to fund the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide Pretrial Services Program established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-25); b. $10 million credited annually to the fund shall be appropriated annually to the Judiciary to be used to fund the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide digital e-court information system. An appropriation made pursuant to this subsection shall not be used to replace appropriations from other sources for Judiciary information technology; and c. $10.1 million credited annually to the fund shall be appropriated annually to the Department of the Treasury for distribution to Legal Services of New Jersey and its affiliates to facilitate the provision to the poor of legal assistance in civil matters, which shall supplement other funds as may be appropriated from any other source in a fiscal year for the same purpose. All State funds distributed to Legal Services of New Jersey shall be used exclusively for the provision to the poor of legal assistance in civil matters. d. Any amount remaining in the fund after the appropriation of funds as provided in subsections a., b., and c. of this section shall be retained by the Judiciary for the purpose of developing, maintaining, and administering the Pretrial Services Program or for court information technology. The monies credited to the fund shall not be used for any purpose other than those purposes set forth in this section and section 14 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-9). L.2014, c.31, s.15.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-11 Submission of reports by Administrative Director of the Courts.

17. a. Not later than the sixth month after the end of each State fiscal year, the Administrative Director of the Courts shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the General Assembly describing the Judiciary's use of funding pursuant to sections 12 through 15 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-7 through C.2B:1-10) and the Judiciary's progress toward the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide digital e-court information system. b. Not later than the sixth month after the end of each State fiscal year, the Administrative Director of the Courts shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Pretrial Services Program Review Commission established by section 20 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-26) on the development and administration of the Statewide Pretrial Services Program. L.2014, c.31, s.17.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-12 Submission of reports by Legal Services of New Jersey.

18. Not later than the sixth month after the end of each State fiscal year, Legal Services of New Jersey, through the Department of the Treasury, shall submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the State Auditor a detailed financial statement describing how funds appropriated in the prior fiscal year pursuant to sections 14 and 15 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-9 and C.2B:1-10) were used for the provision to the poor of legal assistance in civil matters. The use of public funds appropriated to Legal Services of New Jersey shall be subject to oversight by the State Auditor. L.2014, c.31, s.18.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-13 Revision, supplementation of certain fees.

19. a. The authority of the Supreme Court to revise or supplement filing fees and other statutory fees payable to the court pursuant to sections 12 and 13 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-7 and C.2B:1-8) shall expire on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment of those sections, except that any filing fees and other statutory fees payable to the court that have been revised or supplemented pursuant to those sections shall continue in effect, subject to the provisions of this section. b. Within 30 days of the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the Rules of Court first adopted pursuant to sections 12 and 13 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-7 and C.2B:1-8), and additionally within 30 days of the tenth anniversary of that effective date, the Court may review all filing fees and other statutory fees revised or supplemented pursuant to sections 12 and 13 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-7 and C.2B:1-8) through its rulemaking process, which includes a reasonable opportunity for public comment, to determine if the fees should remain unchanged as originally adopted pursuant to those sections or be reduced to reflect the funding needs associated with the purposes set forth in section 14 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-9) for which the "21st Century Justice Improvement Fund" provides monies. L.2014, c.31, s.19.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-14 Information about the expungement process, legal services programs.

19. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall maintain and provide information to any person upon request about the expungement process and legal services programs Statewide and in each county which may be available to assist the person with an expedited expungement pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.1) or a "clean slate" expungement pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.3). L.2021, c.19, s.19.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:1-15 Development, maintenance of multilingual public aware campaign relative to expungement process.

20. a. (1) The Administrative Director of the Courts shall develop and maintain a multilingual public awareness campaign to promote awareness of the expungement process, including an expedited expungement pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.1) or a "clean slate" expungement pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.3), and the expungement e-filing system established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-10.1), as well as information on State, local, non-profit and other private job training programs in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, with a focus on assisting those persons eligible for the expedited expungement of their records pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.1) or a "clean slate" expungement pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.3), respectively. (2) The public awareness campaign shall, at a minimum, utilize electronic and print media, and shall make available electronically on an Internet website a petition form and a list of the supporting information necessary for an expungement, including an expedited or "clean slate" expungement pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.1) or section 7 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.3), respectively, using the expungement e-filing system once established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-10.1). (3) The petition and supporting information shall, at a minimum,be made available in English and Spanish. b. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall include in the annual report on the activities of the Administrative Office of the Courts, prepared pursuant to N.J.S.2A:12-5, information about the activities and accomplishments of the public awareness campaign developed and maintained pursuant to subsection a. of this section, beginning no later than one year after the effective date of P.L.2021, c.19 (C.2C:35-23.1 et al.). L.2021, c.19, s.20.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026