Update, April 27: Courts and Law Enforcement Respond to Coronavirus

FEDERAL

• The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has issued procedures for providing remote video or audio access to public hearings. Interested persons must email a request to the court (ecfhelp@njd.uscourts.gov), including their name and telephone number, the case name, case number, and the date and time of the hearing, as well as consent to consent to follow all of the Court's audio and video teleconferencing rules, including the prohibition on recording or transmitting the proceedings.
• For more information, see our prior posts.

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

• The New Jersey Supreme Court issued an Omnibus Order beginning to reopen several functions of the courts. Among other things, the Order directs:
  • Civil arbitration sessions, including landlord/tenant, special civil, and small claims matters, and matrimonial early settlement panels (ESPs) resume today, April 27. Trials in these matters remain suspended.
  • Municipal court matters in which all parties consent resume today, April 27. Municipal court sessions resume via video or telephone on May 11.
  • Discovery deadlines in most civil and matrimonial matters are extended until May 11.
  • Attorney discipline and fee arbitration matters will resume using remote options on May 11.
  • Civil and criminal jury trials, landlord/tenant trials, and grand jury proceedings remain suspended through May 31. In criminal matters, the period through May 31 is excludable time for speedy trial purposes.
  • Tort claims notice filings and depositions of healthcare workers are suspended through May 31.
  • There is no scheduled end date for the stay of residential evictions or the review of foreclosure notices and judgments received after March 1.
  • Courts are authorized to use their discretion to suspend proceedings, extend deadlines, and accommodate the special needs of parties and attorneys on a case by case basis.
• For more information, see our prior posts.

MUNICIPAL COURTS

• By Order of the New Jersey Supreme Court, municipal court matters in which all parties consent resume today, April 27. Municipal court sessions resume via video or telephone on May 11.
• See our prior posts.