Bill Text: NJ SR121 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Respectfully requests NJ Supreme Court to provide expedited disposition of animal cruelty cases involving impoundment of animals.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee [SR121 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-SR121-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Respectfully requests NJ Supreme Court to provide expedited disposition of animal cruelty cases involving impoundment of animals.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution respectfully requesting the New Jersey Supreme Court to provide for expedited disposition of animal cruelty cases that involve the impoundment of animals.
Whereas, Adjudication of animal cruelty cases almost without exception requires the seizure and impoundment of animals involved in such cases and any animal owned by an alleged animal cruelty offender; and
Whereas, Shelters, pounds, and kennels operating as shelters or pounds are often close to or over capacity and thus are faced with the difficult decision to euthanize the animals that they can no longer properly provide for; and
Whereas, The impounded animals have already suffered indignities that should not be exacerbated or compounded by prolonged impoundment; and
Whereas, The courts may be able to properly and expeditiously adjudicate a number of animal cruelty cases in a short amount of time, diminishing further suffering of animals from prolonged impoundment and the unnecessary euthanizing of healthy animals; and
Whereas, Pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.16), seven days is the statutory minimum requirement for holding a stray animal at a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound before offering the animal for adoption or euthanizing the animal; and
Whereas, Concluding disposition of animal cruelty cases within seven days after the filing would correspond to the statutory minimum requirement for holding a stray animal and could relieve some of the strain on the resources of shelters, pounds, and kennels operating as a shelter or pound; and
Whereas, The Supreme Court may designate certain cases or categories of cases as warranting expeditious disposition, and provide for more expeditious adjudication of those cases pursuant to criteria and procedures promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts; and
Whereas, Such designations, criteria and procedures may serve to improve the justice provided for the protection of animals; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Supreme Court of New Jersey is respectfully requested to require municipal courts, and whenever appropriate, the Superior Court, to expedite the disposition of any animal cruelty case involving the impoundment of an animal, and conclude deliberations within seven days after the filing of the case, in accordance with criteria and procedures to be promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts, with the purpose of relieving overcrowding of shelters, pounds, and kennels operating as shelters or pounds and preventing unnecessary euthanizing of healthy animals.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully requests the Supreme Court of New Jersey to require municipal courts, and whenever appropriate, the Superior Court, to expedite the disposition of any animal cruelty case involving the impoundment of an animal, and to conclude deliberations within seven days after the filing of the case so as to relieve overcrowding of shelters, pounds, and kennels acting as shelters or pounds and prevent unnecessary euthanizing of healthy animals that may otherwise be adopted into suitable homes.
