In the Matter of Investigation Regarding Ringwood Fact Finding Committee Re Violation of N. J. S. A. 19:34-38.1

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Appellate Division's order directing the Passaic County Prosecutor to present the Ringwood Fact Finding Committee election‑law complaint to a grand jury and to allow associate counsel to attend the grand jury. The Court held that the law division lacked authority to compel the prosecutor’s presentation absent a showing of arbitrariness or abuse, and that associate counsel may not be present at grand‑jury proceedings. Justice Pashman, in a concurrence‑in‑part/dissent‑in‑part, agreed with the result but argued that the court should not have struck the provision allowing counsel’s attendance.