In a letter to the Legislature’s presiding officers, Demapan said the two positions have been vacant since Aug. 31, 2010 and July 30, 2010.
He did not mention the salary levels for these positions, but said filling them will fall within the 74 full-time employee positions for the judiciary as indicated in the new budget law, or P.L. 17-21.
“Law clerks play a critical role to the judicial branch as they conduct research and writing under the supervision of judges and justices,” Demapan said.
“The opinions and decisions issued by the courts rely directly on law clerks’ work product. The longer the courts continue without the contribution of additional law clerks, the longer justice is delayed,” he added.
He said the judiciary has three vacancies for law clerks, but “because of budget constraints,” will hire two only.
The judiciary, he added, “as an independent branch of government, finds it reasonable and necessary to immediately hire tow law clerks.”
