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TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner has introduced a proposed state constitutional amendment that would temporarily suspend without pay elected officials who are indicted for wrongdoing from their official duties, and would remove them from office upon conviction.

Turner said the change is necessary to ensure that residents are not left hanging in limbo when elected officials are indicted and split their time between their criminal defense and the needs of their office.

“Indicted elected officials who claim to be able to fully maintain their official duties while simultaneously fighting a criminal complaint are both deluding themselves and depriving our residents,” said Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “When even one moment of time is taken away from an elected official’s duties to be spent on a legal defense, our residents ultimately suffer. With so many challenges facing so many levels of government, we can no longer allow that to happen.”