SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 30

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 24, 1996

 

 

By Senators LYNCH and DiFRANCESCO

 

 

A Joint Resolution honoring Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz for his years of distinguished service.

 

Whereas, Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz was appointed Chief Justice by Governor Brendan Byrne to replace Chief Justice Richard Hughes in August of 1979 and was appointed to a second term and tenure by Governor Thomas Kean; and

Whereas, Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz has served well the citizens of this State in that capacity for almost 17 years and also has served in the Legislature as an Assemblyman from Middlesex County for two terms from 1966 to 1970; and

Whereas, Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz will be remembered not only for his landmark judicial decisions but also for his managerial acumen in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the State court system; and

Whereas, The fine national reputation enjoyed by the New Jersey Supreme Court was continued and enhanced by Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz's leadership, scholarship and integrity; and

Whereas, Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz has left his mark on the New Jersey judicial system by the establishment of such programs as the New Jersey Judicial College and the Municipal Court Judicial College; and

Whereas, Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz led the unification of the trial courts into a Statewide court system; and

Whereas, Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz initiated many reforms in the area of case management including the implementation of management teams, a speedy trial program, complementary dispute resolution and a general modernization of the municipal court system to include computerization, training and coordination with the leadership of the vicinage assignment judges; and

Whereas, Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz was instrumental in the overall automation of the court system including electronic filing, coordination and cooperation with government agencies and other computer-related advances in management; and

Whereas, Under the guidance of Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz a comprehensive Family Court system was implemented which provided one of the settings for the use of volunteers in the court system such as persons working with youth services planning; and

Whereas, Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz received national recognition for his leadership role in establishing the Task Force on Women in the Courts and continued his policy of supporting equal access initiatives by creating a similar body addressing the concerns of minorities in the courts; and

Whereas, Chief Justice Wilentz's tenure in office may be characterized best by borrowing a phrase from his statement issued on June 13, 1996 announcing his retirement which referred to "commitment to judicial independence, total and uncompromising"; now, therefore,

 

    Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz is hereby honored for his dedication to the public good and his years of distinguished service on the bench and as a member of the Legislature.

 

    2. Upon approval by the Governor, a duly authenticated copy of this joint resolution shall be transmitted to Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz.

 

    3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This joint resolution honors Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz on the event of his retirement from that position which he has held for nearly 17 years. The Chief Justice served two terms as an Assemblyman representing Middlesex County and had extensive private practice experience before assuming the position of Chief Justice. The management initiatives and reforms of the administration of justice in New Jersey seen under the tenure of the Chief Justice are as significant as the influential court decisions which he authored or in which he participated.

 

 

                             

 

Honors Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz for his years of distinguished service.