I mentioned the previous hearing involving New Jersey SCR 110. In short, the constitutional amendment would allow judge’s salaries to be reduced “for deductions from such salaries for contributions, established by law from time to time, for pensions as provided for under paragraphs 3 and 5 of Section VI of this Article, health benefits, and other, similar benefits.”
Interestingly, while the Assembly portion (ACR 152) is assigned to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, the Senate version was initially heard and approved in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee back in June.
Now comes word that the next Senate committee to hold a hearing on the measure will not be the Judiciary Committee but the Senate Labor Committee on July 26 at 2 PM. The Senate Judiciary Committee meets earlier in the day to consider other matters.
The amendment comes just days after the NJ Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision that the state’s constitution, as currently written, prohibits forcing judges to pay for increases in their health benefits and pensions enacted last year. (h/t Gavel Grab) The lower court ruing is what prompted SCR 110 to be introduced.
