Circuit Court: Loose Papers, 1798-1935
RECORD GROUP: Clerk of the Court
RECORD SERIES #: 2300
SERIES: Circuit Court
DATES: 1798-1935
VOLUME: 84 cubic feet
See also Circuit Court: In Equity, 1851-1902
In 1798, a new court, within the Supreme Court, was created through the “Act Concerning the Supreme and Circuit Courts.” The act stated that the Justices of the Supreme Court or at least one of them were to hold a court in each county, twice a year, hearing cases relating to equity disputes and cases involving land titles within that county. The final judgments for the cases were entered at the Supreme Court level, not at the County level. The traveling court was referred to as the “Circuit Court.”
It was not until 1838 that the actual County Circuit Courts were established by an Act of Legislation which created a separate circuit court in each county. The Act again stipulated that only the Supreme Court justices or a judge specifically appointed for that purpose could preside. The Act also gave the County Circuit Court jurisdiction over their own cases and directed that all judgments and determinations were to be recorded within the County rather than at the Supreme Court level. The County Clerk was made the Clerk of the Circuit Court and charged with recording and maintaining the Circuit Court minutes and judgments.
The New Jersey Constitution of 1844 clearly defined the County Circuit Courts as a separate court distinct from the Supreme Court, trying cases “at the circuits” meaning within the individual counties.
Circuit Courts were abolished under the New Jersey Constitution of 1947. The functions and jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts were absorbed by the new State Supreme Court and County Superior Courts.
- Circuit Court loose papers, 1798-1935, 63+ boxes
- Circuit Court Judgement Books, 1838-1947, 21 books, microfilmed
- Circuit Court Minutes Books, 1838-1935, 34 books, microfilmed
- Circuit Court Minutes tapes, 1 box
- Circuit Court Scratch Minutes Books, 1887-1899, 2 books, microfilmed
- Circuit Court Calendar, 1869-1893, 1 book, microfilmed
- Circuit Court in Equity loose papers, 1851-1902, 7 boxes
125 Symmes Drive
Manalapan NJ 07726
(732) 308-3771