State ex rel. J.S.

CICCONE, J.S.C.

The issue presented before this court was brought by way of defendant’s application to have the State’s referral motion denied on the basis of fundamental fairness. This court must decide whether the more than two-year delay between the time the juvenile was charged with the alleged acts of delinquency and the time of the referral hearing so prejudiced the juvenile that fundamental fairness mandates that the juvenile court system maintain jurisdiction over this matter. This question appears to be a matter of first impression in New Jersey.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The factual…