FOUR-YEAR TERM OF SERVICE BEGINS ON SEPTEMBER 1 EACH YEAR

The Office of Attorney Ethics welcomes applicants to apply for appointment by the New Jersey Supreme Court to the District Ethics and Fee Arbitration Committees. The next term of service will begin on September 1.

Please click the link below to review the information sheet and application.

A3d – CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS – DEC and DFAC

NOTICE TO THE BAR & PUBLIC

SUPREME COURT COMMITTEES – REQUEST FOR INDICATION OF INTEREST IN POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT

The Supreme Court seeks individuals with diverse areas of expertise, experiences, and perspectives interested in assisting the Judiciary through service on committees and other groups. The Court continues to prioritize inclusivity in the composition of its committees, including as to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and all primary aspects of identity, as well as areas of legal practice, geography, and community involvement, in order to support robust discussion and comprehensive consideration of issues. Read More

NOTICE TO THE BAR: COVID-19 — EXTENSION OF FILING DEADLINES FOR STATE TAX MATTERS TO CONCLUDE AS OF MAY 1, 2022 

The Supreme Court earlier extended the filing deadlines for certain tax matters in light of the COVID-19 emergency. The extension of deadlines for local property appeals has already concluded. The Court in the attached April 14, 2022 Order has concluded the COVID-19-related extensions of deadlines with regard to state tax appeals as of May 1, 2022 

Questions on this notice should be directed to Tax Court Clerk/Administrator Cheryl Ryan at (609) 815-2922, Option 1 or extension 54650. 

/s/ Glenn A. Grant 

Administrative Director of the Courts 

Dated: April 14, 2022 

SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY 

In light of the public health emergency arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court extended certain deadlines with regard to local property tax appeals and state tax appeals. The Court in its March 19, 2020 Order and subsequent orders extended such deadlines to the later of May 1, 2020 or 30 days following the conclusion of the State of Emergency declared under Executive Order 103. The Court cited as the basis for those extensions the COVID-19-related disruptions that prevented corporate and residential taxpayers from meeting filing deadlines in property tax appeals before the County Boards of Taxation and the New Jersey Tax Court. L. 2020, c. 35 concluded the extension of deadlines for local property tax appeals but did not address state tax matters. 

The circumstances that prompted the Court to extend filing deadlines have abated. Pursuant to Executive Order 244 (June 4, 2021) and Executive Order 292 (March 4, 2022), the COVID-19 public health emergency has concluded. Pandemic-related barriers no longer prevent New Jersey taxpayers from meeting filing deadlines. 

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

  1. The COVID-19-related extensions of deadlines with regard to state tax appeals are concluded as of May 1, 2022. 
  2. This Order supersedes any inconsistent provisions of the Court’s COVID-19 Omnibus and other Orders, including its March 19, 2020, April 6, 2020, and April 21, 2020 Orders.

For the Court, 

/s/ Stuart Rabner

Chief Justice 

Dated: April 14, 2022 

 

Dear BCBA Members:

As my term as President of the BCBA comes to an end, I wanted to reach out to all of you and thank you for the honor of serving as the 123rd President. The BCBA is a great organization and that is due to the members.

This was a transition year, as we moved forward out of the Covid pandemic. We were able to have several live events including the Diversity Dinner in the Summer and the Annual Dinner in the Fall. We then moved on to the Professional Dinner where we honored our oldest members and then had a successful Holiday Dinner. It was great to be able to mingle and socialize during these events. Read More

Law firms are flooding the Civil Division Office with telephone calls on the “day of” remote calendars asking for Zoom Links to be re-sent to addresses that have previously been verified and provided by the offending law firms in eCourts.

It appears that the reasons firms are asking for Zoom Links to be re-sent are internal to those law firms. By way of example:

  • The firm is using a general law firm email box to receive links and specific attorneys cannot access the general email box;
  • Information in eCourts is for a senior partner of the firm, but not the actual attorney within the firm handling the matter, and the Zoom Link has not been internally forwarded to the appearing attorney; or
  • eCourts lists the incorrect attorney.

In each instance, court staff are providing Zoom Links as instructed.

At present, the Bergen Vicinage is down fifty-one (51) staff and as you can well imagine, imposing another unnecessary step or interruption is challenging.

The Bergen County Bar Association has always risen to the occasion, and I ask for your cooperation now in ensuring that information provided by your firm is correct, that it is updated appropriately, when necessary, and that internal protocols be put in place to address this issue.

I thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.

/s/ Bonnie J. Mizdol, A.J.S.C.
Bergen County

 

REMINDER — JUNE 1st DEADLINE TO AVOID INELIGIBLE STATUS

This is a reminder that attorneys who have not yet completed their annual registration and payment for 2022 may still do so, with the additional payment of late fees, until June 1, 2022. Those attorneys who do not complete the process by Wednesday, June 1, 2022 may be declared ineligible to practice law in New Jersey by order of the Supreme Court upon publication of the 2022 New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Ineligible List. This reminder about the June 1, 2022 date is also being provided to attorneys by automated calls and by email. Attorneys should register as soon as practicable before that date to avoid being declared ineligible to practice law in New Jersey. Read More

Commencing on or about March 14, 2022, the Law Division will conduct a select number of in-person jury trials. It is anticipated there will be two in-person trials at a time. Virtual trials will also continue determined by resource and space considerations.   Jury selection of in-person jury trials will be remote.  Selected jurors will then come to the courthouse for trial. Read More

As of January 5, 2022, New Jersey attorneys may complete their annual electronic registration and payment through the Judiciary’s web-based application at https://wvvw.njcourts.goviattomeysicams.html. The 2022 registration and payment period will conclude on February 25, 2022.

Pursuant to the Rules of Court, New Jersey attorneys are required annually to file a registration statement in a form prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts with approval of the Supreme Court and to pay an assessment in an amount determined by the Supreme Court. All attorneys must complete their annual attorney registration and pay the required annual fee electronically, except those attorneys who qualify for one of the limited categories of exceptions. Read More

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