In light of updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance and growing use of masks including N95s and KN95s, effective immediately all jurors who participate in in-person proceedings, including trials and grand juries, will have the option to use any appropriate mask and will not be required to use clear masks.

For jurors and other court users who lack an appropriate face mask, the Judiciary will provide a disposable mask and, optionally, an additional cloth mask to be worn on top of the disposable mask.

The Judiciary appreciates the ongoing cooperation by all court users — and especially the commitment of members of the public who continue to serve as jurors — to support health and safety in our court locations during COVID-19.

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

/s/ Glenn A. Grant

Administrative Director of the Courts

1/28/22

This Notice is to advise that an initial arbitrator training course will be offered as a webcast on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in conjunction with the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA).

Pursuant to Rule 1:40-12( c ), all individuals wishing to serve as arbitrators in the court-annexed civil arbitration program must complete at least three classroom hours of initial training in a course approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts. This training will provide instruction on applicable statutes, court rules and administrative directives and policies; standards of conduct; and applicable procedures for conducting arbitrations. It is intended for those individuals who meet the qualifications set forth in Rule 4:21A-2(b) for admission to the roster of arbitrators.

Individuals seeking to attend this initial arbitrator training must register in advance. The registration link is available on the NJSBA webpage at WebcastInitial Arbitration Training Program (njsba.com).

Any questions regarding this Notice or the Civil Arbitration Program may be directed to Melissa Czartoryski, Chief, Civil Court Programs, Administrative Office of the Courts, Hughes Justice Complex, P.O. Box 981, Trenton, NJ 08625; telephone (609) 815-2900 ext. 54900; email: melissa.czartoryski@njcourts.gov.

/s/ Glenn A. Grant

Administrative Director of the Courts

Dated: January 21, 2022

Written by: Theodore M. Davis, Chair Tax Law Committee

1) What does January 24 mean to you? If you’re being sensible about this winter business, it will be just another day to go for a dip or a stroll at the beach in sunny Florida. But if you find that you are still well anchored in New Jersey and worse, responsible for the preparation of individual income tax returns, that day is the official start of tax season. Read More

BRUCE EVAN CHASE, ESQ.
Bergen County Bar Association
Co-Chair, Family Law Committee

On December 10, 2021, Judge Melchionne agreed to meet with me and to provide an update of certain information important to the Family Part and the practicing Bar.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MATTERS
First appearances continue to be conducted via Zoom platform. However, all other proceedings are now being conducted “live” in the courthouse. The change from “Zoom” proceedings was in part a reaction to litigants participating in online, video proceedings while in a car, in a bathroom, and in a coffee shop!

To deal with the domestic violence backlog, in addition to Judge Antoniewicz and Judge Janeczko regularly assigned to FV, Judge Francois has a domestic violence additional assignment one day per week. The FM Judges were enlisted to assist by covering FV calendars as needed and maintaining the cases they are assigned. Read More

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 surge and consistent with COVID-19 public health recommendations, the Judiciary will continue the current reduction in on-site presence of judges and staff through January 23, 2022. As of now, we plan to resume regular on-site presence on Monday, January 24, 2022, and we will continue to monitor the situation.

State court operations will continue as follows:

  • All state court locations will remain fully open to the public and all judicial operations will continue uninterrupted.
  • State court judges and court staff will support all essential functions and conduct emergent matters.
  • Virtual jury selection and virtual trials will continue. For ongoing jury matters that are not entirely virtual, judges should advise jurors that they should plan to report in person on or after Monday, January 31, 2022. For new jury selections, judges should advise jurors that they should plan to report in person as of January 31 or a later date (e.g., February 7 or February 14) as determined by the judge.
  • Certain other in-person court events will also continue to proceed as scheduled.

Managers will provide further direction regarding work requirements, including as to employee requirements to report on-site to court locations during this time.

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner

Administrative Director Glenn A. Grant

In April 2021, the Bergen Vicinage assumed responsibility for the administration of the collection matters previously assigned to former Special Civil Part Officer Bruce Piekarsky. The Vicinage is in the process of contacting creditors and/or attorney creditor firms; defendants and/or defendants’ employers; and financial institutions to obtain necessary information/documentation to reconcile collection data and judgment balances on writs previously assigned to Officer Piekarsky. In cases where collection data and judgment balances cannot be reconciled, the Vicinage will direct that a motion be filed before the Court, on notice to the parties of the action, so that a Court order can be entered as to the balance owed on the judgment. Any party filing such a motion may request the Court to refund the filing fee or request for said fee to be included in the amount(s) potentially claimed against the bond(s) of Officer Piekarsky. As the Vicinage is the insured party under Officer Piekarsky’s bond(s), claims on behalf of litigants will be filed by the Administrative Office of the Courts with the bonding company utilizing the aforementioned Court order(s).

Read More

In light of the current COVID-19 surge and consistent with COVID-19 public health recommendations, the Judiciary will reduce on-site presence of judges and staff for the first two weeks of January 2022. As we monitor and assess the changing COVID-19 conditions, we currently plan to resume regular on-site presence as of Monday, January 17, 2022.

During this period, notwithstanding the reduced on-site presence, all state court locations will continue to be fully open to the public and all judicial operations will continue uninterrupted. State court judges and court staff will support all essential functions and conduct emergent matters. In-person trials already in progress may continue. Virtual jury selection and virtual trials will continue but jurors will not report in-person for new trials until after January 17. Certain in-person court events will also proceed as scheduled. The Presiding Judge for Administration of the Appellate Division, Vicinage Assignment Judges, and the Presiding Judge of the Tax Court will provide judges with more detailed guidance as to ongoing and scheduled in-person court events during this time.

Managers will provide further direction regarding work requirements, including as to employee requirements to report on-site to court locations during this time.

Everyone is reminded of the importance of following the masking and social distancing requirements when working in on-site locations. Care should also be taken when working remotely and outside of work.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week issued revised isolation and quarantine recommendations. In light of those recommendations, the Judiciary is in the process of revising certain COVID-19 policies so as to reduce the time for exclusion from work of employees who have tested positive, been diagnosed, developed symptoms, or have been exposed to the virus. Further details will be provided.

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner

Administrative Director Glenn A. Grant

 

WHEREAS, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the National Emergency,
first declared on March 13, 2020, remains in effect, as does the national public health
emergency, renewed again by the federal government on October 18, 2021; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public
health authorities continue to advise taking precautions to reduce the possibility of exposure
to COVID-19 and to slow the spread of the disease by, among other things, wearing masks fully
covering the nose and mouth, limiting sustained group gatherings of people, maintaining six feet
of physical distance from others (social distancing), and limiting sustained indoor activities
involving spoken presentations; and Read More

By: Theodore M. Davis, Chair, Tax Law Committee

Current Items:

1) The Maltese Pension Falcon
2) Santa’s Wishes

1) It’s almost Christmas and you’re still stuck at home with this new virus threat. What to do, oh, what to do! Now, who doesn’t love Humphrey Bogart, Sidney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Mary Astor? If you’re guessing Casablanca you would be close. In the fall of 1941 director, John Houston put together a dazzling cast to create what is perhaps the first noir classic detective story where Bogie plays Sam Spade. By now you of celluloid addictions may be able to guess “The Maltese Falcon.” In this detective thriller, Sam Spade gets more than he bargained for when a case is brought to him by beautiful and secretive Mary Astor playing Miss Wonderly. Sam’s partner is soon murdered and Peter Lorre shows up demanding he locates a valuable statuette. In 1539, the Knight Templars of Malta paid tribute to Charles V of Spain by sending him a golden falcon encrusted from beak to claw with the rarest jewels. But Pirates seized the galley carrying this priceless token and the fate of the Maltese falcon remained a mystery. Of course, none of this is true but it is a great backdrop for the film. Now I will bet you have no idea where Malta is. It is actually an island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. It played a strategic role in World War II and these days a wonderful vacation spot. I won’t spoil the mystery by telling you how the movie comes out. But by this time you must be asking yourself what does this have to do with the tax law. Read More

DVLAP is a joint program of the Bergen County Alternatives to Domestic Violence and the Bergen County Bar Association.  Participating attorneys help eligible victims of domestic violence take their first step to begin a life beyond their abusive relationship.

To learn more, please call Elizabeth R. Ostuni, Victim Advocate Coordinator at Eostuni@co.bergen.nj.us.

Any person interested in applying should complete an application using the following link: Bergen County New Jersey. Please complete, print, and sign the application. You may either scan and e-mail to: adv@co.bergen.nj.us or fax to (201) 336-7555.