In light of the national emergency due to the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), courts, and law enforcement agencies at every level of Government have taken extraordinary actions:
FEDERAL
- Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The James A. Byrne Courthouse in Philadelphia is closed beginning Wednesday, March 25, 2020, until Monday, March 30, 2020. The Third Circuit Clerk's Office is conducting remote operations during this time and will continue to process all electronic filings. Counsel and pro se litigants who need to file a new original proceeding, such as a Petition for Review, a Petition for Writ of Mandamus or Prohibition, or a Motion for Leave to File a Second or Successive Habeas Petition may send the documents to the Clerk for filing via email addressed to emergency_motions@ca3.uscourts.gov. Litigants who cannot file through the Courts CMECF system may also submit documents for filing by email addressed to emergency_motions@ca3.uscourt.gov. Any party who intends to file an emergency motion should call 267-299-4904 and leave a detailed message regarding the nature of the emergency and contact information.
- District of New Jersey. The Martin Luther King Jr. Courthouse and the Lautenberg Post Office and Courthouse in Newark are closed until April 6, 2020.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
- The Supreme Court has approved interim procedures to accept emergent applications by way of emails sent to a new dedicated email address (AllEmergent.Mailbox@njcourts.gov) for use by pro se litigants and attorneys who cannot file through ecourts. The Court is also temporarily suspending the collection of filing fees from pro se litigants and attorneys who do not have collateral accounts. More information is available on the judiciary’s website.
- Chief Justice Stuart Rabner also ordered that, until Sunday, April 26, 2020, all depositions of and all required appearances for any doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals who are involved in responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency are suspended, except for appearances and depositions (i) that are requested by the doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional; or (ii) that are for matters related to COVID-19.
- Chief Justice Rabner also temporarily suspended Court Rule 1:6-4’s requirement that judges be provided with hard copies of all civil motion papers, orders to show cause, and orders along with electronic filings. However, “courtesy copies” of motion papers must still be provided to the judge, delivered and postmarked within two days of the electronic filing, where the total submission, including appendices and attachments, exceeds 25 pages.