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Author By J.G.Posted on

BENCH-BAR COMMITTEE MEETING – MARCH 11, 2025

Dear Members,

The Bergen County Bar Association leadership meets with the Bergen County Assignment Judge quarterly to discuss issues of mutual interest to the judiciary and our membership. For matters of general importance that you believe should be raised at our next meeting, please email the BCBA.

This is a summary of the March 11, 2025, meeting with the Hon. Carol Novey Catuogno, A.J.S.C.

Judge Catuogno opened the meeting by extending her appreciation for the cooperation between the Judicial Bench and the Bar.

Division Information

  1. Family Division
  • The Family Division Conference will be held on March 24th and March 25th.
  • The Family Education Conference will be held on April 7th and April 8th.
  • Blue Ribbon Panel, comprised of retired Judges and experienced lawyers, will hold settlement conferences on March 21, 2025, April 11, 2025, May 9, 2025, and May 30, 2025.
  • Judge Natalie Capano will be assigned a “special judge” for FV and FD matters.
  • Judge Calviello has added dates for FD and FO (contempt matters).
  • The Family Law Committee will host a CLE and mixer on March 26, 2025.
  • State of the Family Bench will be held on May 19, 2025.
  • Family Division COOP (remote) days: May 23, 2025, September 12, 2025, and November 10, 2025.  
  1. Criminal Division
  • The Criminal Division is # 1 in pre-indictment resolutions in the 21 counties and #10 in the 21 counties in post indictment resolutions.
  • Judge Doyle will be handling post-indictment DV’s, gun permit appeals, extreme risk protections orders, and approximately 40 cases have been reassigned to his calendar.
  • Assignment Judge Catuogno will hear a criminal calendar on April 30, 2025.
  • Settlement Blitz will be held on May 20, 2025.
  • Criminal Division Conferences will be held May 7th and 8th.
  • The Attorney Conducted Voir Dire Pilot Program (ACVD) is continuing in the criminal part.
  • In the Fall, a conference with all stakeholders to review Criminal Justice Reform will take place – date TBD.
  • Criminal Division COOP (remote) Days: May 23, 2025, July 11, 2025, and October 10, 2025.
  1. Civil Division
  • Civil Trials, including Med-Mal, are being conducted. If attorneys are ready for trial, you will be sent out for trial.
  • Judge O’Dwyer will be conducting settlement conferences on designated carrier days.

         Carrier Days:

         Plymouth Rock:         March 25, 2025, and May 7, 2025

Allstate:                       April 2, 2025

Farmers:                     April 16, 2025

  • Judge Padavano will hold conferences from April through June for older cases
  • Civil COOP (remote) days: May 30, 2025, August 22, 2025, and December 12, 2025
  1. Special Civil Part
  • A new person will be assigned to administer the Special Civil Mediation calendar.
  1. General Equity Division:
  • General Equity filings are to be made via ECOURTS not JEDS
  • CLE – Chancery Practice scheduled for June 4, 2025.
  1. AOC Visitations: AOC visitation of the Civil Division has been conducted, and Bergen County is awaiting the final report.
  2. Expungement Clinic: BCBA will host the 3rd Expungement clinic on April 11, 2025.