[4] Judges of the Superior Court are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate for initial terms of seven years.
If reappointed before the expiration of the initial term, the judge is said to have tenure and can serve until the mandatory judicial retirement age of 70.
[6] Effective in 2015, the New Jersey Supreme Court added a Complex Business Litigation Program (CBLP) to the Law Division.
Cases may be filed in the Special Civil Part where the amount in controversy does not exceed $15,000 (or more if the plaintiff waives the excess).
Corporations and other business entities must hire an attorney except for cases cognizable in small claims, where an authorized nonlawyer officer or employee may generally appear.
[9] The Special Civil Part is designed to provide expedited and somewhat relaxed proceedings in smaller cases.
The Criminal Part handles criminal cases for "crimes" or "indictable offenses" (what New Jersey terms offenses called felonies in other jurisdictions), which the New Jersey Constitution provides may only be brought by an indictment issued by a grand jury.
The General Equity, Family, Civil and Criminal Parts in each vicinage are headed by a presiding judge.
[13] "[T]he State Constitution established the Appellate Division as the upper tier of the Superior Court.
"[14] "The Appellate Division was created as part of the judicial revision that took place as a result of the 1947 Constitution.
Prior to 1947, the structure of the judiciary in New Jersey was extremely complex, including 'a court of errors and appeals in the last resort in all causes .
If the Supreme Court has less than seven members available to hear a case, either because of vacancies or recusals, senior Appellate Division judges may be assigned to serve temporarily.
The Appellate Division has a central clerk's office that processes the filing of notices of appeal, briefs, motions and other papers.
[17] The Rules Governing the Courts of New Jersey provide for the use of certain post-nominal letters after the names of judges.