N.J. Stat. tit. 52, ch. 27E

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 52:27E-54 Communications, records; confidentiality protected

5. All communications between the individual client and any attorney in or engaged by the former Department of the Public Advocate shall remain fully protected by the attorney-client privilege subsequent to the effective date of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.). The confidentiality of medical records and other documents maintained as confidential by the former Department of the Public Advocate shall likewise be protected subsequent to the effective date of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.). L.1994,c.58,s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 52:27E-55 Office of the Public Defender continued, transferred to the Department of the Treasury.

6. a. The Office of the Public Defender created by P.L.1967, c.43 (C.2A:158A-1 et seq.), together with all its functions, powers and duties is continued and transferred to and constituted as the Office of the Public Defender in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury. Notwithstanding this allocation, the office shall not be subject to the supervision or control of the Department of the Treasury or any of its officers or employees. b. Whenever, in any law, rule, regulation, order, reorganization plan, contract, document, judicial or administrative proceeding or otherwise, reference is made to the Office of the Public Defender, the same shall mean and refer to the Office of the Public Defender in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury. L.1994, c.58, s.6; amended 2010, c.34, s.18.

N.J. Stat. § 52:27E-56 Preservation of rights, duties as result of allocation to Department of State

8. Allocation of the Office of the Public Defender to the Department of State as provided herein shall not alter or change the term, tenure of office, rights, obligations, duties or responsibilities otherwise provided by law for the Public Defender. L.1994,c.58,s.8.

N.J. Stat. § 52:27E-57 Appropriated funds

10. Funds appropriated to the Office of the Public Defender shall be available for the expenses associated with the defense of pool attorneys hired by the Office of the Public Defender for the representation of indigent clients if these pool attorneys are sued by Office of the Public Defender clients for services rendered to those clients. Funds appropriated to the fund established pursuant to N.J.S.59:12-1 shall be available for the indemnification of these pool attorneys. L.1994,c.58,s.10.

N.J. Stat. § 52:27E-75 Access to client records, files by designated agencies.

37. Any agency designated by the Governor to serve as the State's protection and advocacy agency for the mentally ill and for the developmentally disabled shall have the same access to client records and files, to agency records and to the premises of State or private institutions as the Division of Mental Health Advocacy in the Office of the Public Defender. The intent of this section is that any private protection and advocacy agency designated by the Governor have all of the powers necessary to carry out its responsibilities as required to qualify for federal funding as the protection and advocacy agency. L.1994, c.58, s.37; amended 2010, c.34, s.19.

N.J. Stat. § 52:27E-76 Public Defender's actions

65. Any action brought by the Public Defender or any persons authorized herein to institute or participate in actions before the courts or agencies of this State shall be brought in the name of the person serving as the Public Defender or in the name of an affected individual or group, but shall not be brought in the name of the State or the people thereof. L.1994,c.58,s.65.

N.J. Stat. § 52:27E-77 Rights, terms preserved

66. This act shall not: a. affect the tenure, compensation, and pension rights, if any, of the lawful holder thereof, in any position not specifically abolished herein, upon the effective date of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.); b. alter the term of any member of any board, commission, or public body, not specifically abolished herein, lawfully in office on the effective date of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.), or require the reappointment thereof. L.1994,c.58,s.66.

N.J. Stat. § 52:27E-78 No new causes of action

67. The provisions of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.) in and of themselves shall not be construed so as to create any new causes of action, or to authorize any suit against the Legislature or either House or the officers thereof. L.1994,c.58,s.67.

N.J. Stat. § 52:27E-80 Severability

69. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.) is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.), but shall be confined in its effect to the section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of P.L.1994, c.58 (C.52:27E-50 et al.) directly involved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been rendered. L.1994,c.58,s.69.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026