ABUSES OF THE PUBLIC TRUST –
For a number of years, New Jersey organizations concerned about the basic rights protected by the state and federal Constitutions have experienced setback after setback. Many times, different individuals and organizations have reached out to legal defense organizations for help, only to receive disappointing news that a case was “beyond their scope” or “not in alignment with their mission,” or that the organization needed to concentrate and achieve victories elsewhere before they could offer New Jersey groups any help.
After yet another request for outside help was denied, the organizational seed for the Jersey Justice Center was sown. A number of organizations meeting as a coalition prayed for wisdom, discernment, and guidance.
A few weeks later, in October 2024, the Jersey Justice Center was established as a New Jersey nonprofit corporation.
That “last” request for legal support became the focus for the initial litigation the Jersey Justice Center is supporting.
As detailed on our Current Issues page, the case at issue is unique in many aspects. First, it is proximate – the case was filed in January, 2023 and oral arguments were heard before the Appellate Division February 3, 2025. Second, it is “structural,” or focused not on the emotional issues of the legislation, but rather on alleged violation of procedure, constitutional requirements and state statutory procedures. Finally, the litigation was filed by two citizens under a unique provision of New Jersey law that allows citizens to seek to have a law voided and overturned.
This litigation is so unusual that the Courts, at first, did not know how to classify it or where it should be docketed. N.J.S.A. 1:7-1 and 1:7-4 specify that the challenge should begin with the Appellate Division of N.J. Superior Court as the court of original jurisdiction.
The litigation seeks to overturn “S49,” which Governor Phil Murphy signed into law as P.L. 2021, Ch. 375 – “an act concerning freedom of reproductive choice.” The litigation was not brought by the Jersey Justice Center, but we are raising funds to support it.
The litigation charges multiple violations of procedure and statute – short cuts that precluded public notice and the constitutional right of citizens to address their elected representatives prior to passage by the Legislature.
These actions of government are exactly the sort of affront to the public good that the Jersey Justice Center is organized to support.
We invite your review (see Current Issues), and your participation through both financial support and direct civic engagement with your elected representatives. Active, engaged citizenship is the authority designed within our systems of government to offset excesses by our elected agents.
When citizens are not personally engaged and active, it’s like a second-grade teacher telling her class, “I’ll be back in an hour – I forgot to take the car for repair.” If a teacher leaves her class unattended (or we leave our elected officials unattended), the result is the same: chaos.
So we invite and encourage your active participation at all levels – school board, municipal government, county government, state government, federal government. In addition to litigation, the Jersey Justice Center will be providing civic education … the “how to” … to help you engage.
Please help us grow and move forward!
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