Jury Reforms Improve Fairness and Broaden Participation in Jury Selection; Pilot Program Underway

As authorized by the New Jersey Supreme Court, the Judiciary is reforming jury processes. Through these reforms, the Court seeks to broaden participation in jury service and reduce the effects of discrimination and bias in jury selection.

Many of the jury reforms apply to all civil and criminal jury trials as of Sept. 1, 2022. Certain additional reforms for now apply only to criminal matters in three counties -- Bergen, Camden, and Middlesex -- that will be testing a new approach to jury selection known as Attorney-Conducted Voir Dire (ACVD). 

The reforms and pilot program result from the Supreme Court Conference on Jury Selection held in November 2021.