Mission Statement
The mission of the New Jersey Court Watch Program is to promote justice, fairness, and transparency in the state’s municipal courts by training and empowering community members to observe and document court proceedings, identify patterns of bias or misconduct, and advocate for judicial accountability and reform.
New Jersey Court Watch Program:
​
The New Jersey Court Watch Program is a civic accountability initiative rooted in the principle that justice must not only be done—but must be seen to be done. Municipal courts in New Jersey handle an overwhelming majority of the state’s legal matters, from traffic offenses and municipal violations to low-level criminal charges. Yet these local courts often operate outside the public eye, with little oversight and limited transparency. This imbalance can result in courtroom environments where fairness, due process, and equal treatment may be inconsistently applied or, at times, disregarded altogether.
​
The mission of New Jersey Court Watch is to restore public presence, scrutiny, and trust in the municipal court system. We believe that an informed and engaged citizenry plays a vital role in ensuring that courts serve the people with integrity, professionalism, and justice. By training ordinary residents to observe, document, and report on court proceedings, we provide an independent check on judicial behavior and institutional culture at the municipal level.
​
Our Court Watchers attend court sessions as silent observers, documenting interactions between judges, attorneys, court staff, and defendants. They evaluate key areas such as judicial courtesy, clarity in explaining legal rights, equal treatment of defendants, and the accessibility of courtroom procedures. These observations are compiled into structured reports that identify trends, highlight areas of concern, and support advocacy for judicial reform and increased accountability.
​
Court Watch also promotes transparency by educating the public about their rights to access public hearings, obtain court records, and report judicial misconduct. We serve as a bridge between the community and the courts—empowering residents to hold their local institutions accountable and reinforcing the notion that justice is not a private affair, but a public responsibility.
​