Hi, How Can We Help You?
  • Address: 15 Bergen St, Hackensack, NJ
  • Phone: (201) 488-0032
  • Email Address: info@bergenbar.org

Category Archives: Current News

NOTICE: Message from Bergen County Assignment Judge Bonnie J. Mizdol

Author By J.G.Posted on

NOTICE TO THE BAR

     The past two weeks have presented enormous challenges, and it has been inspiring to witness the dedication of the Bergen Judiciary, our Trial Court Administrator, Laura Simoldoni, senior administrative staff and all of our judiciary employees.

Quoting Chief Justice Rabner,

Our mission at this time of crisis is straightforward and complex all at once.  In a society based upon the rule of law, it is essential that courts remain open and that the public has access to the justice system.  Victims of domestic violence, defendants awaiting pretrial release, civil litigants struggling to get needed relief and countless others cannot wait for weeks or months to be heard.  And the responsibility to provide them a fair forum and address their dispute – even at the most challenging of time – falls on the Judiciary.

We are striving to carry out that responsibility as safely as possible.  The health of court staff, judges and members of the public is at stake and that concern has and will continue to guide all of our decisions about administering the courts at this time.

I have and continue to remain in daily communication with your Executive Director, Frank O’Marra, to provide the most up-to-date information available to the Bergen County Bar Association. Read More

NOTICE: Tax Court Operations

Author By J.G.Posted on

The Tax Court has transitioned to virtual courtrooms. The Court had its first virtual trial on Wednesday March 25, 2020. For the foreseeable future all proceedings which would normally be held in-person (oral arguments on motions, trials, Chapter 91 hearings) will be conducted via Zoom and live streamed by the Judiciary at https://njcourts.gov/public/channels.html. In the event you have a matter before the Tax Court you will be contacted by chambers with instructions on how to log-in and how to upload documents. Questions can be directed to Tax Court IT department at 609-815-2922 ext. 54646.

 

NOTICE: Rule Relaxation Regarding “Courtesy Copies” of Civil Motion Papers

Author By J.G.Posted on

SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY

In response to the growing public health crisis worldwide and in this state involving the COVID-19 coronavirus, the New Jersey Judiciary continues to implement all possible measures to apply social distancing in court operations consistent with the recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health (“NJ DOH”) and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”).

The Judiciary accordingly has closed comi buildings to the public and adjusted the operations of court offices to reduce the risk of exposure to or transmission of the virus.

Executive Order 107 (March 21, 2020) imposed strict limitations on the operations of “brick-and-mortar” businesses and required telecommuting to the greatest extent possible, causing law firms to transition expeditiously to remote work operations with few if any attorneys or staff working from their law firm offices. Read More

NOTICE: Bergen County Civil Pre-Trial Settlement Conference Program

Author By J.G.Posted on

As reflected in the court’s Automated Case Management System, pretrial judicial settlement conferences, scheduled to be conducted by the Hon. Lisa Perez-Friscia, J.S.C., through April 3, 2020, are CANCELLED.  Civil Judges in Bergen – including Judge Perez-Friscia – may call counsel and initiate settlement conferences telephonically.  The Bar is advised to check ACMS for scheduling updates on their cases.

 

/s/ Hon. Robert L. Polifroni, P.J.Cv.

Dated: March 24, 2020

NOTICE: In the Matter of Request to Commute or Spend Certain County Jail Sentences

Author By J.G.Posted on

This matter having come before the Court on the request for relief by the Office of the Public Defender (see attached letter dated March 19, 2020), seeking the Court’s consideration of a proposed Order to Show Cause (see attached) designed to commute or suspend county jail sentences currently being served by county jail inmates either as a condition of probation for an indictable offense or because of a municipal court conviction; and

The Court, on its own motion, having relaxed the Rules of Court to permit the filing of this request for relief directly with the Supreme Court, based on the dangers posed by COVID-19, and the statewide impact of the nature of the request in light of the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor. See Executive Order No. 103 (2020) (Mar. 9, 2020);

And for good cause shown; it is Read More

NOTICE: Extension of Property Tax Appeal Filing Deadline Due to COVID-19

Author By J.G.Posted on

SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY

WHEREAS, a national emergency has been declared and the Governor of New Jersey has declared a State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency because of the COVID-19 coronavirus public health crisis, with statewide implementation of social distancing measures to attempt to slow the spread of the virus; and

WHEREAS, those measures are resulting in unprecedented closures and cancellations throughout the state such that corporate and residential property taxpayers are severely disrupted in their ability to meet filing deadlines in property tax appeals before the County Boards of Taxation and the New Jersey Tax Court; Read More

NOTICE: New Measures About Criminal Speedy Trials & Excludable Time

Author By J.G.Posted on

SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY

In response to the growing public health crisis worldwide and in this state involving the COVID-19 coronavirus, the New Jersey Judiciary is implementing all possible measures to apply social distancing in current court operations consistent with the recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health (“NJ DOH”) and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”).

Based on the large number of persons required for jury and grand jury panels, on March 12, 2020, the Judiciary suspended all reporting for jury service except for ongoing trials and directed that no new criminal jury trials would be conducted until further notice, and on March 17, 2020, the Court postponed the empanelment of all grand juries, including the State Grand Jury, and cancelled all current grand jury sessions, including the State Grand Jury, effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, through Friday, March 27, 2020

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that, effective immediately: Read More

NOTICE: Civil Arbitrations and MESP Sessions

Author By J.G.Posted on

SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY

In response to the growing public health crisis worldwide and in this state involving the COVID-19 coronavirus, the New Jersey Judiciary is implementing all possible measures to apply social distancing in current court operations consistent with the recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health (“NJ DOH”) and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”).

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that effective immediately and until further order: Read More

NOTICE: Bergen County Jail Update & County Executive Order 2020-1B Rescinded

Author By J.G.Posted on

UPDATE ON BERGEN COUNTY JAIL & RESCINDED COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-1B

  • While one Sheriff’s Department Correctional Officer tested positive for the Coronavirus several days ago and several other officers in close-quarters with that officer are all now under a 14-day self-quarantine, the Bergen County Jail continues its regular procedure for attorney interviews with inmates. No current inmate at the Bergen County Jail has been tested positive for the coronavirus.
  • Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco today rescinded his Executive Order 2020-1B at the request of the Governor.  The Murphy Administration has stated that the only closures that could be enforced were those issued by the Governor. Law offices were specifically exempted from the County Executive’s order.Executive Order 2020-1B has never been enacted but was delayed to work with the Governor’s Office and to take the opportunity to revisit areas of the Executive Order that the County had received feedback on from the business community and the public.

NOTICE: Update Related to Bergen County Superior Court Operations

Author By J.G.Posted on

NOTICE TO THE BERGEN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

MARCH 18, 2020

The Bergen County Judiciary, in conjunction with the New Jersey Judiciary, is continuing to take preventive measures to reduce risks of exposure to and transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus.  As of March 18, 2020, and until further notice, there shall be NO in-person Superior Court proceedings (except for extremely limited emergent matters as set forth in the March 15, 2020, Notice to the Bar attached).

The Bergen Judiciary shall attempt to handle as many matters as possible (including case management conferences, motions, and hearings) by telephone or video conference, whether from the courthouse or remotely in the days and weeks ahead.  This is all part of the Judiciary’s social distancing effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

In order to conduct conferences via video we shall be using the Zoom Platform.  To prepare, I urge that you download the application on your devices.

In the meantime, the situation is fluid and we continue to plan for further adjustments.  At the time of this writing the Bergen Judiciary has implemented the following changes: Read More

1 … 3 4 5 6