The approval of a judicial pension for the acting administrative director of the New Jersey Courts was inaudibly removed from the State House Commission’s agenda on Monday without publicly stating a reason.
Glenn A. Grant, who effectively acts as the chief operating officer of the state judiciary, retired in January after more than 25 years as a Superior Court Judge; he has held the administrative post since 2008.
“Judge Grant has served as a recall judge since turning 72, when he was required to start drawing from his pension,” said Peter McAleer, a spokesperson for the judiciary. “The salaries of recall judges are capped. Judge Grant works full-time for the judiciary as acting administrative director. He collects only 25 percent of his salary and donates the balance of his time by working for free.”
Grant is slated to receive a $152,328-a-year pension after retiring from a $203,113 annual salary in January.
In late 2021, the legislature passed a special pension bill that allowed Grant to defer his pension and remain in his post beyond age 70 while still receiving post-retirement health care benefits.
It’s unclear whether the pension delay is connected to a February controversy where Grant ordered municipal court judges to disregard a law passed unanimously by the legislature and signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.
Following an objection from key legislators, the New Jersey Supreme Court backed off a battle over a new statute permitting plea bargaining to allow for ignition interlock devices in minor drunk driving cases.
The State House Commission oversees the state’s Judicial Retirement System.