COVID-19 trends throughout New Jersey are improving, as reflected in the latest COVID-19 Activity Level Index (CALI) report posted by the New Jersey Department of Health (NJ DOH). Appropriate public health precautions still remain important, however, especially in indoor locations where individuals are summoned to be present as compared to other public and private places that they choose to visit.

Read More

The Supreme Court has authorized the establishment of a statewide Landlord Tenant Legal Specialist program, as recommended by the Judiciary Special Committee on Landlord Tenant (“Special Committee”). This new program will support the review and administrative processing of landlord tenant actions, including the more than 55,500 pending eviction cases and 194,000 cases expected to be filed after the expiration of the moratorium on residential evictions. The Court’s June 3, 2021 Order is attached.

The remainder of the recommendations of the Special Committee – and the public comments and oral testimony on those recommendations – continue to be under consideration by the Court.

Questions about landlord tenant actions should be directed to the Civil Practice Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts at (609) 815-2900 x54900. Questions about recruitment for landlord tenant legal specialist positions should be directed to the Human Resources Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts at (609) 815-2900 option 5.

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

Acting Administrative Director of the Courts

Dated: June 4, 2021

NOTICE: Landlord:Tenant – Establishment of Statewide Landlord:Tenant Legal Specialist Program.pdf

Pursuant to Rule 1:40-12(c), all individuals wishing to serve as arbitrators in the court-annexed civil arbitration program must complete at three classroom hours of initial training in a course approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). To remain eligible for continued inclusion on the roster, arbitrators must complete two hours of training after the first two years, and two additional hours of training during each subsequent four-year period. This Notice is to advise that the initial arbitrator training course will be offered via webinar on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

This training will provide instruction on applicable statutes, court rules and administrative directives and policies; standards of conduct; and procedures for conducting arbitrations. The initial training 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 the initial arbitrator training must register in advance by contacting Kelsey Austin at Kelsey.Austin@njcourts.gov.

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

Acting Administrative Director of the Courts

Dated: June 2, 2021

Notice Civil Arbitration Program.pdf

COVID-19 trends throughout New Jersey are encouraging, making it possible for the Judiciary to continue to increase on-site presence of Superior and Municipal Court judges and state court employees in court locations. That larger percentage of judges and employees will support more in-person court events and expanded availability of in-person court services. At the same time, the Judiciary will continue to provide remote options, both for court services and for those court proceedings that can be effectively conducted in a remote format. As we have throughout COVID-19, the Judiciary will continue to prioritize the health and safety of all court users.

Read More

The Supreme Court has authorized the resumption of commercial landlord tenant trials effective June 2, 2021. At this time, settlement conferences and trials generally will be conducted in a virtual format, although the trial court may determine to proceed in person in a particular matter based on the individual facts of the case. The Court’s June 2, 2021 Order is attached.

Questions about this notice or the Court’s order should 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: June 2, 2021

Order – Resumption of Commercial Landlord Tenant Trials – as signed – dated 06-02-21.pdf

This notice referenced in the following link below, provides a comprehensive update on the resumption of in-person jury trials and the continuation of virtual civil jury trials pursuant to the Supreme Court’s May 11, 2021 Order. It supersedes the September 11, 2020 notice.

NOTICE Criminal and Civil Jury Trials – Public Information and Guidance Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s May 11, 2021 Order.pdf

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

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

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

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.

Read More