A 2177 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires New Jersey Supreme Court to issue order dismissing certain charges, complaints, and arrest warrants filed with or issued by municipal courts and unresolved for five years or more; requires AOC to conduct certain studies.

This bill requires the New Jersey Supreme Court to automatically dismiss unresolved municipal court charges, complaints, and arrest warrants for specific low-level offenses that have remained pending for five years or longer. It applies to offenses like shoplifting under $200, minor assault, disorderly conduct, and possession of small amounts of marijuana (50g or less), but excludes violations of municipal ordinances. The bill also mandates that the state's Administrative Office of the Courts conduct two studies within six months: one on expanding existing dismissal programs and another on implementing a voluntary surrender program for non-violent offenses. These provisions aim to reduce court backlogs and eliminate outdated legal actions against individuals.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
lower
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor

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