New Jersey Sen. Michael Doherty proposes bill to give counties power over courtroom costs

As Warren County and the state judiciary continue to squabble over who should foot the bill to fix a courtroom declared by a judge to be unconstitutional, one state lawmaker has proposed legislation to give counties the final say in courthouse expenditures.

Sen. Michael Doherty said he plans to introduce a bill that would give county officials final authority on costs related to courtrooms, judges' chambers, equipment and supplies. The bill would also give the county's elected officials the power to determine whether courtroom facilities are "suitable" according to the terms of the law.

Such changes would "prevent the spendthrift state judiciary from wasting county taxpayer dollars in these kinds of disputes," said Doherty, R-Warren/Hunterdon.

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Soon after the renovations were complete, Superior Court Judge Ann Bartlett ruled that a 6-inch-wide support pillar in the courtroom, which blocks the defense table's line of sight to the jury box and witness stand, made trials held there unconstitutional.

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