The New Jersey Supreme Court has struck down a law previously enacted by the state legislature that allowed 200 of the court system’s probation officers to carry firearms in the performance of their duties, according to the Trenton Star-Ledger. Ruling on a lawsuit authorized by its own chief justice, the state high court said defining the duties of probation officers is the constitutional responsibility of the judiciary that employs them, not the legislature.
The ruling also reiterated the court’s view that probation officers may not carry firearms, make arrests or join police fraternal associations. “As an arm of the court, they are required to avoid any perception of favoring one side or another or of being in league with any party, particularly law enforcement,” said the written opinion on the ruling.
Link: http://www.nj.com/statehouse/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1145509219187260.xml&coll=1