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Category Archives: New Jersey Supreme Court and Administrative Office of the Courts

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

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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 

 

Civil Arbitration Program – Initial Arbitrator Training Tuesday, April 12, 2022- NJSBA Webcast

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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

A Message from Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and Administrative Director Glenn A. Grant: Reduced On-Site Presence of Judges and Staff for First Two Weeks of January 2022

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In light of the current COVID-19 surge and consistent with COVID-19 public health recommendations, the Judiciary will reduce on-site presence of judges and staff for the first two weeks of January 2022. As we monitor and assess the changing COVID-19 conditions, we currently plan to resume regular on-site presence as of Monday, January 17, 2022.

During this period, notwithstanding the reduced on-site presence, all state court locations will continue to be fully open to the public and all judicial operations will continue uninterrupted. State court judges and court staff will support all essential functions and conduct emergent matters. In-person trials already in progress may continue. Virtual jury selection and virtual trials will continue but jurors will not report in-person for new trials until after January 17. Certain in-person court events will also proceed as scheduled. The Presiding Judge for Administration of the Appellate Division, Vicinage Assignment Judges, and the Presiding Judge of the Tax Court will provide judges with more detailed guidance as to ongoing and scheduled in-person court events during this time.

Managers will provide further direction regarding work requirements, including as to employee requirements to report on-site to court locations during this time.

Everyone is reminded of the importance of following the masking and social distancing requirements when working in on-site locations. Care should also be taken when working remotely and outside of work.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week issued revised isolation and quarantine recommendations. In light of those recommendations, the Judiciary is in the process of revising certain COVID-19 policies so as to reduce the time for exclusion from work of employees who have tested positive, been diagnosed, developed symptoms, or have been exposed to the virus. Further details will be provided.

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner

Administrative Director Glenn A. Grant

 

NJSBA Working Group on Jury Selection Interim Report

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The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) Working Group on Jury Selection has formally submitted its interim report to the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Judicial Conference on Jury Selection that will be conducted on November 10th and November 12th.  The report reflects the collective wisdom, analysis, and extensive experience in the courtroom and in thought leadership in the New Jersey Legal Community. See below to read the report in its entirety.

The Bergen County Bar Association ( BCBA) leadership has made significant contributions to the interim report and we will continue to support the NJSBA and our allies in preserving peremptory challenges and proposing meaningful reform to the jury selection process to eliminate or substantially reduce the impact of implicit and explicit bias in selecting a fair and impartial jury from a fair cross-section of the community.  

The filing of this interim report is just the beginning of our joint efforts to reform the jury selection process and, if any member wishes to share an experience during jury selection where explicit or implicit bias affected the jury selection process, please share your experience with the BCBA and we will consider how that experience may be helpful in demonstrating the needs for historic reforms in New Jersey’s jury selection procedures.

Members of the BCBA and the public are invited to attend the virtual Judicial Conference. Information can be found by clicking here.

To pre-register (which is encouraged), please click here. 

Jury Selection Interim Report – Final Version

 

Notice to the Bar: Civil Arbitration Program – Initial And Continuing Arbitrator Trainings – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

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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 (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. Read More

Security Measures for Accessing Judiciary Systems – Enhancement of Two-Factor Authentication Process to Allow for Additional Email Addresses and Cell Phone Numbers

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As earlier advised by Notice dated May 13, 2021, two-factor authentication is now in place as an information security requirement for attorneys accessing any Judiciary application. Two-factor authentication requires attorneys to authenticate their account after receiving a security code at the cell phone number or email address provided by the attorney during annual attorney registration.

This is notice o advise that effective immediately, attorneys will be permitted to provide two additional email addresses and two additional cell phone numbers to receive the two-factor verification code.

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Notice and Order – Landlord Tenant – Temporary Modifications for Cases Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic; Relaxation of Court Rules in Furtherance of New Legislation (L. 2021, c. 188)

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Click below to see the attached notice and Supreme Court order, both dated August 9, in furtherance of implementation L. 2021, c. 188.   The order relaxes a number of court rules  As stated in the Court’s order, that legislation provides a number of remedies for residential landlords and tenants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including requiring that for certain cases, courts “must (1) dismiss a complaint upon receipt of a certification of a tenant; and (2) permit a landlord to pursue collection of unpaid rent beyond standard Special Civil Part (DC) jurisdictional limits.”  The rule relaxations are effective immediately.

 

Notice – Landlord Tenant – Implementation of L. 2021 c. 188 – Rule Relaxations and Temporary Measures – 08-09-21 – as signed – w links

Order – Landlord Tenant and COVID-19 – Rule Relaxations – Implementation of L 2021, c 188 – as signed – 08-09-21

Landlord Tenant- August 31, 2021 Webinar – Introduction To Residential Landlord Tenant Reforms And Preview Of Electronic Filing System Enhancements (Effective September 1, 2021)

Author By J.G.Posted on

The Supreme Court in its July 14, 2021 Orders and Administrative
Determinations established a new process for residential landlord tenant cases, to
be effective September 1, 2021. In its action on the Report and Recommendations
of the Judiciary Special Committee on Landlord Tenant, the Court set forth a series
of interrelated reforms, including new pleadings, revised processes, and a
conference before the trial date.

This notice invites attorneys and others to attend a training session on the
reforms to the residential landlord tenant court process. Read More

NOTICE: COVID-19 – Requirement to Wear Masks and Maintain Social Distancing in Judiciary Areas of Court Locations

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The Supreme Court in its June 9, 2020 Order required that all persons who enter or occupy Judiciary areas of court locations must wear masks and maintain social distancing. The requirement to (1) wear a mask and (2) maintain social distancing is subject to narrow exceptions, including for persons who require accommodations. The Judiciary in a June 17, 2021 notice confirmed the continuation of the policy and provided further direction as to the circumstances in which a judge may permit individuals in a courtroom to remove or lower their mask. This notice is to advise as to the consequences for willful violation of the Court’s policy, which is intended to mitigate against the risks to public health and safety posed by the COVID-19 virus.

A person who enters or occupies a Judiciary location and refuses to wear a mask or maintain social distancing in willful violation of the Supreme Court’s policy as set forth in the above-referenced order and notice may be excluded from the court location. Such individual also may be held in contempt of court (Rule 1: 10-1 ). Those provisions do not apply to individuals who are exempted from the policy, including persons who require medical accommodations and children under the age of two years. Nor do they apply if an individual has been permitted by a judge to remove their mask in a courtroom.

County Sheriffs may be called to assist in any situation in which an individual is in willful violation of those health and safety requirements.

Questions 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: July 30, 2021

NOTICE COVID-19 Requirement to Wear Masks and Social Distancing in Judiciary Areas of Court Locations.pdf

Court Access – All State Court Locations to Reopen to the Public as of Monday, August 2, 2021; On-Site Staff Presence to Increase to 100% as of September 7, 2021

Author By J.G.Posted on

State Court Locations Fully Open as of August 2, 2021

All state court locations will reopen to the public as of August 2, 2021, thus concluding the temporary restrictions on public access to the courthouses implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of that August 2, 2021 date, individuals may be present in court locations regardless of their involvement in a scheduled court proceeding and without the need for an appointment.

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