WOODBRIDGE — New Jersey voters approved a proposal to amend the state constitution allowing judges to deny pre-trial release to some defendants charged with serious crimes.

The constitutional amendment would affect defendants who are considered a danger, a flight risk or a threat to obstruct justice.

Gov. Chris Christie has been pushing for the bail amendment for more than two years, having coupled it with a separate push to expand New Jersey's drug court system so that first-time nonviolent offenders are sentenced to mandatory treatment and not prison time.

The fix, he said, was necessary because New Jersey's constitution only allows for judges to deny bail to defendants charged with offenses punishable by the death penalty. But the state repealed the death penalty in 2007, meaning all defendants are eligible for bail.

Christie built a large coalition in support of the measure -— including even the ACLU. But it has its critics, such as the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey.

Ellen Torregrossa-O'Connor, a trustee of the association, said the amendment would be "a complete abrogation of the constitutional right to bail that New Jersey's had in the constitution since it was created."

The new measure won't take effect until 2017.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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