Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten, left, should be glad when Judge Susan Maven, right, starts hearing criminal cases May 12 in Court House.

COURT HOUSE –– A local judge is about to get some much-needed caseload help.

Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten, who sits on the bench in the Criminal Division, has been flying solo since Judge Carmen Alvarez was reassigned to the Appellate Division in August 2007.

Batten has been busy.

In the period spanning July 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, the Cape May Criminal Division handled 904 incoming cases and resolved 849 cases for a clearance rate of 94 percent, according to state court-management figures. These cases include criminal cases, municipal appeals and post conviction relief cases.

For criminal cases, state guidelines set four-months as the accepted timeframe for the cases to be heard. Cases that take longer than four months are considered backlog. Of the 349 active criminal active cases at the end of March, 243 or 70 percent within the guidelines, but 106 or 30 percent were backlogged.

While Batten received some regular help from Atlantic County judges, he has essentially been handling a two-judge caseload for months.

“He (Batten) has done such a wonderful job,” Vicinage I (Atlantic, Cape May) Assignment Judge Valerie Armstrong told the Herald regarding Batten’s months-long task. “We are extremely grateful for his contributions.”

Batten, a former 1st District state assemblyman and municipal prosecutor, has been on the bench since 1992.

In an effort to alleviate some of Batten’s workload, an Atlantic County Family Court judge was transferred.

On April 25, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner ordered that Judge Susan F. Maven be reassigned to Cape May County effective May 12.

“Judge Maven is a dedicated, hard working judge. We’re very fortunate that she is part of the vicinage,” Armstrong said. “She’s looking forward to the assignment and I know she’ll do a wonderful job there.”

Maven has been a Superior Court judge since 2001. Prior to that, she served as a commissioner on the state Casino Control Commission (1998-2001) and in-house counsel for the Atlantic County Improvement Authority (1990-98).

As a young lawyer in 1993, New Jersey Perspective News Magazine named Maven the Outstanding Black Woman of South Jersey.

Maven is also the recipient of numerous other awards and honors for her work in the law, as a volunteer and for her influence. In 2002, she was inducted into the Atlantic County Women’s Hall of Fame for her outstanding public service.

Born and raised in Long Island, N.Y., Maven graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 and Temple University Law School in 1987. She currently resides in Absecon.

Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com