Op-Ed: Three Branches, One Framework—How Atlantic County Is Leading New Jersey Into the Future of AI Governance

By Commissioner Andrew W. Parker III, Chair, Education & Schools Committee | Founding Chair, Atlantic County AI/Tech Ad Hoc Committee

Artificial Intelligence is moving faster than public policy, reshaping how governments deliver services and how residents engage with their communities. Counties across the nation will soon adopt AI tools in health, human services, transportation, public safety, workforce development, and education. The real question is not whether AI will change government—it already has—but whether we will guide that change responsibly.

In Atlantic County, we have chosen to lead rather than react. Our new Unified AI Infrastructure Framework is the first county-level model in New Jersey built intentionally on three authoritative pillars:

1. New Jersey’s Executive Branch AI policy (NJ OIT Circular 23-OIT-007),
2. The New Jersey Supreme Court’s AI rules for attorneys and judges, and
3. The scholarship of Judge Donald R. Hedges, one of the state’s most respected judicial thinkers on AI, digital evidence, and due process.

Together, these sources provide the ethical, operational, and legal backbone for responsible AI use. Our county framework integrates all three—making Atlantic County a statewide leader and a national example for local government.

Executive Branch Policy: The Foundation for AI in Government

New Jersey’s 2023 executive-branch guidance, OIT Circular 23-OIT-007, outlines how state agencies must approach generative AI. It requires human oversight, privacy protection, cybersecurity safeguards, vendor transparency, and clear public disclosure. These rules are practical and forward-looking—recognizing both the promise and the risks of rapid technological growth.

Our county framework fully aligns with the circular’s standards. This ensures consistency across levels of government and guarantees that any AI tools we use meet the highest expectations for safety and accountability.

Judicial Safeguards: Protecting Fairness and Public Trust

The New Jersey Supreme Court has also taken decisive action, issuing guidance for attorneys, judges, and court staff in 2023 and 2024. These rules require that lawyers verify all AI-generated material, avoid uploading confidential information into AI tools, and disclose when AI contributes to legal filings. Judges and court personnel must protect privacy, avoid algorithmic bias, and prevent AI from influencing decisions in ways that undermine fairness or due process.

These judicial safeguards reaffirm a critical truth: AI must be implemented with discipline wherever public trust and rights are at stake.

Scholarship from Judge Donald R. Hedges: The Ethical Compass

Judge Donald R. Hedges (Ret.) has long been a national voice on the intersection of technology, digital evidence, and justice. His research warns that unregulated AI can jeopardize fairness, transparency, and the integrity of legal proceedings. He argues that AI systems must be explainable and subject to rigorous human review.

His work shapes the ethical spine of our framework. If the courts demand caution, counties must as well—especially when handling sensitive data, resident services, or public-facing systems.

Turning the Three Pillars Into a Unified County Framework

Grounded in these three sources, Atlantic County’s Unified AI Infrastructure Framework sets clear expectations for every department:

• Responsible adoption: AI must enhance—not replace—human judgment.
• Data safety: Resident information must be protected at all stages.
• Vendor accountability: Companies must disclose training data, safeguards, and limitations.
• Staff readiness: Employees must be trained to understand AI’s benefits and risks.
• Equitable use: AI cannot be deployed in ways that disadvantage or discriminate against residents.
• Transparency for the public: Residents deserve to know when AI is influencing services.

To illustrate the stakes: AI could help emergency management predict flooding, streamline public health services, or support workforce training programs. But without safeguards, the same tools could mishandle sensitive information, produce biased outputs, or undermine confidence in government. The framework ensures AI improves lives—not complicates them.

Benefits for Residents

A responsible AI framework means:

• faster, more efficient county services;
• stronger cybersecurity and data protection;
• better support for educators and students;
• improved workforce development programs;
• clearer communication and transparency;
• and increased public trust in government.

This is modernization with guardrails—innovation with accountability.

Looking Ahead

In the coming year, the AI/Tech Ad Hoc Committee will develop department-level guidelines, training modules, vendor compliance checklists, and a public-facing transparency dashboard. Our goal is to turn policy into practice so that every resident sees the benefit.

A Model for New Jersey

New Jersey is one of the few states where all three branches of government have taken meaningful steps to govern AI. Atlantic County is now aligning with that statewide leadership—ensuring we build a future that is safe, equitable, transparent, and forward-thinking.

With the right safeguards, the future of government will not be automated; it will be augmented, explainable, and accountable. Atlantic County is proud to lead the way.

Thanks for reading the whole story!

At Atlantic City Focus, we're committed to providing a platform where the diverse voices of our community can be heard, respected, and celebrated. As an independent online news platform, we rely on a unique mix of affordable advertising and the support of readers like you to continue delivering quality, community journalism that matters. Please support the businesses and organizations that support us by clicking on their ads. And by making a tax deductible donation today, you become a catalyst for change helping to amplify the authentic voices that might otherwise go unheard. And every contribution is greatly appreciated. Join us in making a difference—one uplifting story at a time!

GET UP WITH ATLANTIC CITY FOCUS and RAYMOND TYLER
STARTING MONAY, FEB 10th AT 8AM!