R. 1:33-2. — Court Managerial Structure

a. The Chief Justice shall divide the State into such geographical divisions as appropriate to facilitate the efficient administration of the courts. Such geographical divisions shall be known as "vicinages."

b. For each vicinage, the Chief Justice shall designate a judge of the Superior Court to serve as Assignment Judge. Each such Assignment Judge shall serve at the pleasure of and report directly to the Chief Justice.

c. Within each vicinage, the Chief Justice shall organize the Superior Court trial court system into four functional units to facilitate the management of the trial court system within that vicinage. These units shall be: Civil, Criminal, Family and General Equity.

d. 1. Each functional unit shall be supervised by a Presiding Judge who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice, after consultation with the Assignment Judge, and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Chief Justice. A Presiding Judge may supervise more than one functional unit. The Presiding Judge shall report directly and be responsible to the Assignment Judge.

2. The Chief Justice may appoint the Assignment Judge to serve as the Presiding Judge for one or more functional units within the vicinage.

e. The Chief Justice shall designate a judge of the Tax Court as presiding judge, to serve at the pleasure of the Chief Justice.

f. For each vicinage, the Chief Justice shall designate a municipal court judge to serve as Presiding Judge of the municipal courts for that vicinage, who shall serve in that role at the pleasure of the Chief Justice. The Presiding Judge shall report directly to and be responsible to the Assignment Judge of the vicinage.