Overview

• The New Jersey Supreme Court has heard oral arguments on whether a grand jury can investigate clergy abuse allegations involving private church officials in the Diocese of Camden.
• The Attorney General's Office argues that blocking the grand jury investigation before its findings is premature and speculative.
• The Diocese of Camden contends that state law limits grand jury probes to public entities and officials, asserting private institutions are off-limits.
• Unsealed court documents reveal that a state hotline received 550 reports of clergy abuse spanning from the 1940s to recent years.
• A decision, which could redefine the scope of grand jury authority and institutional accountability, is expected in the coming months.