See below a Powerpoint Presentation explaining how to navigate and use the Judicial Electronic Documents Submission (JEDS) System. Please review the link below and view the Powerpoint how to use and submit documents to the Court through JEDS.
NOTICE TO THE BAR
At the direction of Assignment Judge Bonnie J. Mizdol and Criminal Presiding Judge Margaret M. Foti, the Bergen Vicinage now institutes the following steps for attorneys who wish to request that their clients be scheduled for review of electronic discovery.
In an ongoing effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19 at the Bergen County Jail, Warden Ahrendt and Captain Russo have instituted certain protocols, including the suspension of inmates reviewing electronic discovery at the Law Library, unless a request is made by counsel or the court. In those instances, limited review sessions will be arranged. Electronic discovery includes Flashdrives/CDs dropped off at the jail or electronic discovery that is emailed. Of course, defense counsel is always free to drop off paper discovery to the jail – the jail will arrange delivery to the particular inmate.
It is understood that inmates pending Pretrial Detention hearings have the most urgent need to review electronic discovery. Under these circumstances, attorneys should email Criminal Division Manager Leslie Darcy, and request that their clients be scheduled to immediately review electronic discovery which has been previously supplied to the jail. The email should include the defendant’s name, complaint numbers and the total approximate time needed for review of the electronic discovery.
Most other defendants are not as time sensitive in their need to review electronic discovery. The review of electronic discovery is absolutely important in all cases, but particularly where the defendant is considering a plea offer or preparing for a motion to be heard. If an attorney learns that his/her client has not yet reviewed the electronic discovery, and if it is important to do so quickly, the attorney will notify the judge assigned to the case. The attorney will request that the judge expedite their review session for the inmate. The request must include the defendant’s name, indictment or accusation number, total approximate time needed for the review, and the date by which the defendant needs to complete the review.
The judge will forward the request to the Criminal Division Manager Leslie Darcy, who will communicate with Captain Russo to effectuate the request.
The Bergen County jail will keep Criminal Division Manager Leslie Darcy apprised of defendants who have completed their review of the electronic discovery. If an inmate refuses to review the discovery, the jail will notify Division Manager Darcy.
April 27, 2020
Please be advised that the Bergen County Courthouse remains closed for entry by the public until further notice. However, court proceedings are still being held by way of video and telephone conferences.
You have been scheduled for a hearing for a violation of pretrial monitoring on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 1:30 PM. You will be able to appear via telephone. Please see the attached court notice for details as to your required appearance.
Please call 201-370-2641 or email BergenPTSMailbox@njcourts.gov before Tuesday, May 12, 2020 to provide the Court with a telephone number at which you will be able to be reached on Thursday, May 14, 2020.
If you do not have an attorney and wish to apply for a Public Defender, please include that information when you call or e-mail the Court. If you already have a Public Defender and wish to contact their office, please call 201-996-8020.
NOTICE TO THE BAR
COVID-19 – SECOND OMNIBUS ORDER ON COURT OPERATIONS AND LEGAL PRACTICE – MORE OPERATIONS TO BE CONDUCTED REMOTELY; LIMITED DISCOVERY EXTENSIONS AND TOLLING PERIODS
The New Jersey Courts are committed to continuing court operations during and after the COVID-19 public health emergency. To that end, the Supreme Court announced the next phase of remote court operations and legal practice.
Please follow the link below and read the Second Omnibus Order from the Supreme Court of New Jersey relating to the status of continuing court operations and legal practice during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Please follow the link below and read the attached Notice to the Bar from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in regards to the Disposition of Criminal Cases during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The Bergen County Criminal Part Judges are handling Criminal Matters by utilizing technology to enable the parties to appear remotely. Please the schedule below for the month of May for the assigned Criminal Part judges to handle emergent matters. Of course, this schedule is subject to change if the Courthouse opens to the public sooner
May 1 and 4: Judge Kazlau/Judge Wilcox
May 5 and 6: Judge Foti/Judge Bachmann
May 7 and 8: Judge Vinci/Judge Sattely
May 11 and 12: Judge Catuogno/Judge McGrogan
May 13 and 14: Judge Kazlau/ Judge Wilcox
May 15 and 18: Judge Foti/Judge Bachmann
May 19 and 20: Judge Vinci/Judge Sattely
May 21 and 22: Judge Catuogno/Judge McGrogan
May 25: MEMORIAL DAY (HOLIDAY)
May 26 and 27: Judge Kazlau/Judge Wilcox
May 28 and 29: Judge Foti/Judge Bachmann
Please follow the link below and read the attached notice below from the Supreme Court of New Jersey in regards to guidelines on remote proceedings in the Trial Courts, obtaining audio and video records, and the extent of the court’s authority to suspend the commencement of certain custodial terms.
NOTICE TO THE BAR
The Supreme Court Omnibus Order on COVID-19 issues, entered March 27, 2020, in response to the growing health crisis worldwide involving the COVID-19 coronavirus, affirmed, continued, or supplemented provisions established in a series of prior orders, including the Court’s prior March 17, 2020 Order, which were necessitated as part of the Judiciary’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Omnibus Order extended a number of deadlines and tolled time periods. This notice provides guidance as to the effect of the Omnibus Order on specific Appellate Division practices and procedures. Read More
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the need to adhere to crucial social distancing measures recommended by the New Jersey Department of Health (“NJ DOH”) and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), the Court has entered orders, including Orders dated March 17, 2020 and March 27, 2020 (“Omnibus Order”), that inter alia extended deadlines and tolled time periods.
This Order is to clarify that the Court’s extension of deadlines and tolling of time periods as set forth in those earlier orders did not apply to pretrial detention filings, including appeals filed pursuant to Rule 2:9-13 (“Appeals from Orders Granting Pretrial Detention”), responses to those appeals, and motions for leave to appeal pursuant to Rule 2:5-6 (“Appeals from Interlocutory Orders, Decisions and Actions”).
To the extent that a party may have interpreted the tolling provisions of prior orders otherwise, that party may pursue an appeal and submit an accompanying motion to file as within time.
For the Court,
/s/ Stuart Rabner
Chief Justice
Dated: April 9, 2020
NOTICE
In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, 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 and the Centers for Disease Control. Accordingly, the procedures for applying for a SASPA protective order have been temporarily modified.
As part of the new temporary procedures, the Judiciary created the attached application packet to be used by the plaintiff/victim or the parent of a victim to request a SASPA temporary protective order. A parent or guardian may file on behalf of the victim in any case in which the victim (1) is less than 18 years of age; or (2) has a developmental disability or a mental disease or defect that renders the victim temporarily or permanently incapable of understanding the nature of the victim’s conduct, including, but not limited to, being incapable of providing consent.
The packet, which also is posted on the Judiciary’s website (www.njcourts.gov), includes the required forms as well as instructions on how to complete the forms. Once the plaintiff has completed the forms in the packet, they must email them to the Family Division either in the county in which the victim resides, the county in which the defendant resides, or the county where the act occurred. The list of email addresses by each county to be used for this purpose is on page 5 of the Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act Intake Kit (CN 12590). Family Division staff will promptly review the submitted paperwork that plaintiff has submitted and will contact the plaintiff to coordinate a time for a telephonic or video hearing on the application before a Superior Court judge.
If you are a victim of domestic violence and want to file for a domestic violence restraining order, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
Questions about this notice may be directed to the AOC’s Family Practice Division
at 609-815-2900 ext. 55350.
/s/ Hon. Glenn A. Grant, J.A.D.
Acting Administrative Director of the Courts
Dated: April 2, 2020
***Please be advised this packet is intended to only be used during the COVID-19 crisis.***