From the NJSBA’s Daily Briefing:
Starting July 11, all tort and contract claims filed against the state of New Jersey must be submitted through a digital portal on the state’s website. The new process is required for claims involving all state departments, agencies, employees and officials, including state colleges and universities except for Rutgers University. Learn more about the procedure here.
If you are interested in serving as a Matrimonial Early Settlement Panelist in Bergen County and
you are not currently serving on a panel, download the application from the link below, follow
the directions to complete and submit your form before July 31, 2024.
This memorandum is to serve as a basic refresher regarding Recovery Court. Recovery Court, which has been in existence for over 20 years, serves as a diversionary sentence for non-violent criminal offenders. The crimes do not have to necessarily involve controlled dangerous substances. Rather, the crimes must have been committed as the result of a person’s drug/alcohol addiction or in furtherance of a person’s addiction. Recovery Court targets offenders who would be most likely to benefit from treatment and who do not pose a risk to public safety. Should a defendant be offered an attractive plea deal, the question becomes whether the sentence would be the best recourse for a defendant with addiction issues. Read More
The Judiciary Information Technology Office is upgrading the wireless infrastructure in all Superior Court courthouses. As part of this statewide project, we are discontinuing the wireless network (Wi-Fi) that attorneys have been using in courthouses (“NJ-Attorney”). Attorneys will instead now be able to use the same Judiciary wireless network that the public uses in each of the courthouses: “<county name> Judiciary PublicWifi”. Attorneys using this public Wi-Fi will no longer need to enter their User ID and password, though, however, like the Public, they must accept the End User Agreement to access the wireless network. This change will go into effect on Monday, June 3, 2024.
/s/ Hon. Glenn A. Grant, J.A.D.
Acting Administrative Director of the Courts.
This Notice addresses defendants who have been charged on a Complaint-Warrant and are being committed to the Bergen County Jail for processing and to appear at Central Judicial Processing Court.
Effective immediately, the new cutoff time for new commitments to the Bergen County Jail to be processed by the Pretrial Services Unit for CJP Court is 8:30 AM Monday through Friday and 11:00 AM on weekends and/or holidays. Defendants must be committed to the Bergen County Jail by the aforementioned cut off times and also appear on the Pretrial Services worklist. These cutoff times apply to defendants committed to the jail by local law enforcement as well as defendants who elect to self-surrender. Please note that having a defendant physically appear at a police department or the jail at 8:30 AM on weekdays or 11:00 AM on weekends will not suffice to meet this cutoff. Local police departments and the jail need the time to complete paperwork, fingerprint, and process the defendant. Depending on circumstances at the local police department or at the jail, processing could take up to several hours.
The only exception to the aforementioned cut-off times are defendants who have an unserved complaint warrant (“non-app”) and are taken into custody for processing at the time of their court appearance or while reporting to Pretrial Services. If a defendant is taken into custody at the courthouse before 10:00 AM, the defendant will be seen for CJP the same day.
If the aforementioned cutoff times are not met, the defendant will appear at CJP on the following day. Court staff must abide by the procedures of the Criminal Justice Reform act, which cannot be shortened, expedited, or circumvented. Please direct any questions you may have regarding this notice to Leslie Darcy, Criminal Division Manager, via email at Leslie.darcy@njcourts.gov.
Please click below to see the revised Family Division Reassignments, which are effective April 15, 2024.
Notice to the Bar -Family Division Assignments – 4.15.24 (1)
Written by Bruce E. Chase, Esq., Co-Chair, Family Law Committee
In March 2007, the Bergen Vicinage was chosen to be one of the four (4) vicinages chosen to implement a Pilot Program for the appointment of Parent Coordinators. (See Notice dated 4/2/07). The Pilot Program was terminated by Notice of the Supreme Court AOC in November 2012. Upon the termination of the Pilot Program, Family Part judges were authorized to appoint PCs in specific cases in any vicinage. (See 2012 Notice). In the Notice terminating the Pilot Program, the court noted that if appointed, the PC must “be qualified to serve either by consent of the parties or by the court in the same manner as other experts.” Read More
After careful consideration and deliberation, the Officers and Trustees of the Bergen County Bar Association are thrilled to announce that Bruce E. Chase, Esq., is the distinguished recipient of this year’s prestigious Honorable Peter Ciolino Professional Lawyer of the Year Award.
Bruce’s remarkable career in the legal field has been marked by a consistent display of exceptional professionalism, unwavering dedication, and a profound commitment to the principles of justice and integrity. His contributions to the legal community in Bergen County and beyond have left an indelible mark, and his peers hold him in the highest regard.
Bruce’s journey in the legal profession was deeply influenced by his father, who served as his mentor and a shining example of professionalism, civility, courtesy, and what it means to be a “lawyer’s lawyer.” In 1978, following his father’s guidance, Bruce became a member of the BCBA on the day he was admitted to the bar. Over the years, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became actively involved in the BCBA, eventually rising to the esteemed position of the 99th President of the BCBA. Following his presidency and immediate past presidency, Bruce continued his service as the BCBA’s representative to the New Jersey State Bar Association for a commendable six years. He takes particular pride in his role as the BCBA’s Chair or Co-Chair of its Family Law Committee, where he dedicated more than two decades of his time and expertise.
Beyond his involvement with the BCBA, Bruce has also made significant contributions as a trustee and later as President of Bergen County Legal Services. Further honoring his father’s legacy, he undertook the state and national exams to become a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys (AAML). In his journey with AAML-NJ, he held various esteemed positions and eventually ascended to the presidency in 2015. Bruce’s dedication to the field is evident through his numerous publications and wide-ranging lectures for the BCBA, NJSBA, and AAML-NJ.
We cordially invite you to join us in celebrating Bruce’s outstanding achievements and recognizing his profound contributions to the legal profession. The award ceremony will occur on Monday, November 6, 2023, at Seasons.
Bruce E. Chase, Esq., exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the legal field, and we look forward to honoring his remarkable career at this special event.
Effective August 1, 2023, the Judicial assignments are as follows:
PRE-JUDGMENT- Dissolution (FM) Motions & Trials
Docket Nos.
01-25 Jane Gallina-Mecca, P.J.F.P.
26-70 Julie Lee Kim, J.S.C.
71-100 Robert E. Landel, J.S.C.
POST-JUDGMENT- Dissolution (FM) Motions & Plenary Hearings
01-05 Jane Gallina-Mecca, P.J.F.P.
06-10 Julie Lee Kim, J.S.C.
11-15. Robert E. Landel, J.S.C.
16-32. Magali Francois, J.S.C.
33-49. Jaclyn Medina, J.S.C.
50-66. Michael Antoniewicz, J.S.C.
67-83. Amy E. Lefkowitz, J.S.C.
84-100 William C. Soukas, J.S.C.
In addition, the Judges will hear the following matters:
On Recall:
Judge Janeczko (Room 161) FM Default Calendar
HO Appeals will rotate among the judges assigned to the FD Docket
DV Appeals will rotate among the judges assigned to the FV Docket
*Judge Gallina-Mecca will continue with ½ of the Bergen South docket until September 1.
/s/ Jane Gallina-Mecca, P.J.F.P.
It is ORDERED that the initial judicial assignment for new Superior Court Judge William C. Soukas will be to the Superior Court, Family Division, Bergen County (Vicinage 2); this amends the June 27, 2023 order that supplemented the 2022-2023 General Assignment Order dated August 15, 2022.
/s/ Honorable Stuart Rabner
Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court