The New Jersey Association for Justice took part in the two-day Judicial Conference on Jury Selection earlier this month. 

Much of the conference dealt with the subject of peremptory challenges and whether they should be reduced or eliminated.

NAJ President Kathleen M. Reilly, Esq. testified at the conference on behalf of the association and spoke in support of retaining our peremptory challenges and advocated for attorney-conducted voir dire.

You can read the text of the testimony here.

Several other affinity bar associations also testified in a similar fashion.  

NJAJ also sent a letter to the Administrative Office of the Courts supporting and endorsing the report submitted by the New Jersey State Bar Association Working Group on Jury Selection.

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner  concluded the conference by announcing that a committee formed by the Administrative Office of the Courts  will continue to investigate the issues raised at the conference.

Reilly thanked the members of the NJAJ Task Force on Peremptory Challenges for their outstanding work in helping to put together NJAJ’s testimony.

Thank you to:

• James S. Lynch, Esq.;
• Michael G. Donahue, III, Esq.;
• Tommie Ann Gibney, Esq.;
• Patricia M. Giordano, Esq.;
• Lynne M. Kizis, Esq.;
• Christopher M. Placitella, Esq.; and
• Francisco J. Rodriguez, Esq.