Benesch Partner Michael Meuti, Chair of the firm's Appellate Practice Group, was quoted in a Bloomberg Law article about the New Jersey Supreme Court as it resumes its sessions. The court currently maintains a slim Democratic majority of one seat and operates under an unwritten tradition that prevents either party from holding more than four seats, fostering cross-party collaboration.
Despite the 4-3 partisan split, the court has issued 88 decisions in the past two years, the vast majority of which were unanimous. This approach reduces judicial partisanship, particularly in contrast to the increasingly contentious environment surrounding state Supreme Court elections nationwide.
“If I could have all my arguments in front of a court like them—sign me up,” Meuti said. He emphasized that the justices engage in a problem-solving process rather than an adversarial one, stating, “This was a collective group of justices trying to solve a problem, get the right answer.”
The article also details the court's “cert partners” system, where justices, often from opposing parties, evaluate cases together before they are presented, contributing to a clearer and more consensus-driven decision-making process. While critics argue that this approach may lead to narrower rulings and limit bold policy shifts, it contributes to increased collaboration and stability amidst a national trend of judicial polarization.
Read the full article here.