TRENTON — A judge says state attorneys can introduce evidence about New Jersey's fiscal woes during an upcoming hearing on whether the state is adequately funding schools. State Superior Court Judge Peter Doyne also said today that the information can be introduced into the court record but that his report won't take sides on whether those budgetary constraints made...
Gov. Chris Christie delivers his first State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature to highlight education, benefit reform and fiscal responsibility, in this January 2011 photo.TRENTON — A judge says state attorneys can introduce evidence about New Jersey's fiscal woes during an upcoming hearing on whether the state is adequately funding schools.
State Superior Court Judge Peter Doyne also said today that the information can be introduced into the court record but that his report won't take sides on whether those budgetary constraints made the cuts necessary.
The state Supreme Court appointed Doyne to help sort out whether Gov. Chris Christie was within his constitutional rights last year when he cut aid to local schools by about $1 billion.
The Education Law Center, a group that advocates for students, had asked Doyne to bar the state from introducing the information.
The hearing is scheduled to begin Monday in Hackensack and could last a few weeks.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Supreme Court weighs constitutionality of Christie's education cuts
• N.J. Supreme Court to hear arguments on constitutionality of Christie's education budget cuts
• N.J. Supreme Court hears arguments on Abbott schools funding formula