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Revised Guidelines for Court-Appointed Attorneys in Guardianship Matters and Form Report

Author By T.G.Posted on

Use the link below to access the revised Guidelines for Court-Appointed Attorneys in Guardianship Matters, and the form Report of Court-Appointed Counsel for the Alleged Incapacitated Person.

Links to the revised Guidelines and fillable Microsoft Word Document form Report are also available on the Judiciary’s Guardianship Support/Guardianship Monitoring Program web page, found at the following link: Guardianship Support / Guardianship Monitoring Program (njcourts.gov).

Guidelines for CAAs in Guardianship Matters (2021).pdf

Report of Court-Appointed Counsel for the Alleged Incapacitated Person Form.pdf

RESUMPTION OF SOCIALLY DISTANCED IN-PERSON GRAND JURY SESSIONS

Author By T.G.Posted on

The Supreme Court has authorized the resumption of in-person grand jury sessions effective June 15, 2021. The Court’s May 11, 2021 Order is attached.

Grand juries may resume in person as of that date with appropriate health protocols, including face masks and social distancing. As of August 1, 2021, all counties are to have at least one in-person grand jury panel in place. As set forth in the Court’s Order, “based on current limits to on-site presence and in-person court events in court and other locations – specifically the need to maintain social distancing and to preserve court space for in-person criminal jury trials – grand juries also may continue to convene temporarily in a virtual format.”

The Court in a separate May 11, 2021 Order also has authorized the resumption of in-person petit jury proceedings.

Questions about this notice may be directed to the Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts at (609) 376-3000.

/s/ Hon. Glenn A. Grant, J.A.D.

Acting Administrative Director of the Courts

Dated: May 11, 2021

Notice and Order – Resumption of Socially Distanced In-Person Grand Jury Sessions – 05-11-21.pdf

RESUMPTION OF IN-PERSON JURY TRIALS ON OR AFTER JUNE 15, 2021 – PRIORITIZATION OF CRIMINAL TRIALS THAT INVOLVE DETAINED DEFENDANTS

Author By T.G.Posted on

The Supreme Court has authorized the resumption of in-person criminal jury trials, and some in-person civil jury trials, effective on or after June 15, 2021. Criminal jury trials will be conducted in person and will be the priority, with cases that involve detained defendants continuing to receive the highest priority. Most civil jury trials at present will continue to be conducted in a virtual format. The Court’s May 11, 2021 Order is attached.

The Court’s authorization to resume in-person jury trials is based on improved COVID-19 trends throughout New Jersey. In-person jury trials will be conducted with necessary health precautions, including social distancing and the requirement that participants wear face masks except in limited circumstances when other health protections are in place. As announced in this May 6, 2021 notice, up to 50% of judges and state court employees will be present in state court locations as of June 15, 2021. Those on-site judges and state court employees will support upcoming in-person jury trials and other court events.

The Court in a separate May 11, 2021 Order also has authorized the resumption of in-person grand jury sessions, which must be conducted with necessary health precautions.

Questions about this notice may be directed to the Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts at (609) 376-3000

/s/ Hon. Glenn A. Grant, J.A.D.

Acting Administrative Director of the Courts

Dated: May 11, 2021

Notice and Order – Resumption of Certain In-Person Jury Trials Effective June 15, 2021; Prioritization of Criminal Jury Trials – 05-11-21 – corrected.pdf

COURT OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC ACCESS: (1)INCREASED ON-SITE PRESENCE IN STATE COURT LOCATIONS; AND (2) REMOTE AND IN-PERSON ACCESS TO VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON COURT EVENTS

Author By lzPosted on

Effective June 15, 2021, up to 50% of judges and state court employees may be present on-site in state court locations. Consistent with public health guidance, the Judiciary will increase on-site presence gradually and with the understanding that we may change direction if COVID-19 trends worsen in the future.

The Judiciary throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been guided by the recommendations of public health authorities, including the New Jersey Department of Health (NJ DOH). Today, and based on positive trends statewide, key public health indicators regarding COVID-19 in New Jersey are encouraging. New cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been decreasing for several weeks and continue to decline. In all regions of the state, the COVID-19 Activity Level Index (CALI) is moderate. Subject to continued appropriate precautions, these data support an increase in on-site presence of judges and state court employees.
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Directive 11-21: Guardianships of Incapacitated Adults – Background Screening Policy for Proposed Guardians; New and Revised Court Forms

Author By T.G.Posted on

The Supreme Court has approved a Background Screening Policy for Proposed Guardians of Incapacitated Adults (the “policy”). This directive promulgates that new policy and related new and revised court forms. It also provides guidance for use of the new policy, which will apply to guardians in matters filed on or after May 15, 2021.

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Memo to Vicinages: Guardianship Background Screening Policy Implementation Pursuant to Directive 11-21

Author By T.G.Posted on

The Supreme Court has approved a background screening policy for certain proposed guardians of incapacitated adults. The Court also has amended Rule 4:86 (“Action for Guardianship of an Incapacitated Person or for the Appointment of a Conservator”) so as to implement the policy. As approved by the Judicial Council, a new Certification of Criminal and Civil Judgment History has been promulgated, along with revised versions of a number of other court forms.

Proposed guardians in matters filed on or after May 15, 2021 will be subject to this new background screening policy. Directive #11-21 (“Guardianships of Incapacitated Adults – Background Screening Policy for Proposed Guardians; New and Revised Court Forms”) promulgates the new policy as well as the new and revised forms. This memo outlines the steps necessary for implementation of the policy.

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NOTICE: United States District Court of New Jersey – Proposed Amendment to the Local Civil Rule: RULE 33.1

Author By T.G.Posted on

Notice is hereby given to the Bar and all interested parties that the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey proposes to amend the Local Civil Rules. The proposed amendments are posted for public comment as required by 28 U.S.C. § 2071(b) at http://www.njd.uscourts.gov.

Amendment are proposed to the following Local Civil Rule:

New Text underlined.

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NOTICE: COVID-19 Extension of Post-Indictment Excludable Time; Delay In Resumption of In-Person Jury Trials

Author By T.G.Posted on

The Supreme Court has extended the end-date for post-indictment excludable time for the additional period from May 18, 2021 through June 15, 2021. The Court’s April 9, 2021 Order is attached.

As set forth in the Court’s April 9, 2021 Order, current COVID-19 trends indicate that it is too soon to expand on-site presence and in-person events, including for purposes of in-person jury trials. Public health indicators – including the millions of COVID-19 vaccines administered statewide – instead suggest that the Judiciary should be positioned to resume in-person jury trials on or after June 15, 2021.

Jurors who have been summoned to report for service before June 15, 2021 will be assigned to panels for virtual civil jury trials. All counties will continue to summon jurors for upcoming reporting dates. Judges will adjust trial dates for in-person trials as necessary.

Questions about this notice or the Court’s April 9, 2021 Order may be directed to the Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts at (609) 376-3000.

/s/ Hon. Glenn A. Grant, J.A.D.

Acting Administrative Director of the Courts

Dated: April, 9, 2021

NOTICE COVID-19 Extension of Post-Indictment Excludable Time; Delay in Resumption of In-Person Jury Trials.pdf

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