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Category Archives: Covid-19 Notices

NOTICE: Workers’ Compensation Courts Closed until Tuesday, May 26

Author By J.G.Posted on

NOTICE TO THE BAR

May 7, 2020

This notice announces additional statewide steps by the New Jersey Division of Workers’ Compensation to address the ongoing public health crisis surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in New Jersey.

In accordance with Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders to slow the spread of the virus, all N.J. workers’ compensation courts shall continue to be closed to the public and to nonessential court personnel until Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

All twenty-six Judges of Compensation previously assigned by the Director and Chief Judge of Compensation shall continue to hear as many workers’ compensation matters as possible in their assigned vicinage by telephonic conferencing, and if possible by video conferencing, including all emergent and non-emergent matters, including trials, pre-trial conferences, motions for medical and temporary benefits, general motions, and settlements.

There will be no in-person Workers’ Compensation Court proceedings (except for extremely limited emergent matters and certain ongoing motions for medical and temporary benefits and trials, in which case social distancing will be enforced).

Court offices will remain closed for in-person submissions. Filings will continue to be accepted electronically through COURTS On-line.

Please contact each individual workers’ compensation court if you have questions about a scheduled hearing, motion, conference, or other matter by email, fax, or telephone.

Hon. Russell Wojtenko, Jr.

Director and Chief Judge of Compensation

N.J. Department of Labor & Workforce Development

Division of Workers’ Compensation

WC Courts Closed To Public 5-26.pdf

NOTICE: Attorneys Licensed in Other Jurisdictions Temporarily Permitted to Provide Pro Bono Legal Services to the New Jersey Individuals and Small Business

Author By J.G.Posted on

NOTICE TO THE BAR

As a further step in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting disruption to the courts and the legal system, the Supreme Court this week issued the attached May 4 order temporarily allowing attorneys licensed in another United States jurisdiction to provide needed pro bono legal services to individuals and small businesses affected by the public health crisis.

The basis for the order is the Court’s determination that the COVID-19 public health emergency constitutes an “emergency affecting the justice system,” thereby invoking Rule 1:21-10 which provides for this temporary authorization to practice in New Jersey.

The Court’s Order will enable in-house counsel and other attorneys not licensed in New Jersey to provide those critical services on a pro bono basis. The out-of-state attorney seeking to provide pro bono legal services must not be disbarred, suspended from practice, or otherwise restricted from practice in any jurisdiction, and must be supervised by an attorney licensed and in good standing in New Jersey. The supervising attorney must file a certification with the Supreme Court regarding all attorneys who provide pro bono assistance through this avenue

Questions about this notice should be directed to Superior Court Clerk Michelle M. Smith at Michelle.Smith@njcourts.gov or (609) 421-6100.

***Please follow the link below to see the attached notice.***

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

Acting Administrative Director of the Courts

Dated: May 6, 2020

Notice and Order – Temporarily Authorizing Out-of-State Attorneys During COVID-19 to Provide Pro Bono Legal Services Under Supervision.pdf

NOTICE: Special Civil Court Settlement Proceedings

Author By J.G.Posted on

Supervising Special Civil Part Judge, Hon. Joseph G. Monaghan, wishes to advise the Bar that he is available to any litigant who would like to schedule a settlement conference on any Special Civil Part matter – whether it be Special Civil Part (DC); Small Claims (SC) or a Landlord Tenant (LT) matter. This opportunity is open to all cases including self-represented litigants. If your adversary is represented by counsel,  you must communicate with your adversary prior to contacting the court. If your adversary is self-represented, you can contact the court without first calling your adversary, for the sole purpose of requesting the conference. To schedule a conference, you need only contact Judge Monaghan’s chambers at (201) 221-0700 (25465). Be prepared to provide the name of the case; docket number; and telephone numbers of the attorneys and/or litigants (cell numbers are usually the most productive).  A settlement conference will be scheduled thereafter.

NOTICE: Update on Communications with Bergen County Jail

Author By J.G.Posted on

Criminal cases are being scheduled throughout the week. Law clerks are reaching out to attorneys in advance regarding scheduling and also on the day of the virtual Zoom appearance if there are delays in hearing a particular case. Adjourn dates are placed on the record and a notice is uploaded to ecourts.

Applications for Drug Court may be completed electronically and applications are on-line. TASC is able to do evaluations. There will be a virtual Drug Court graduation on May 21.

Attorney visits with Bergen County Jail inmates may be scheduled with the jail by sending an email request to jvelez@bcsd.us. The visits are confidential.

NOTICE: Zoom Instruction Videos

Author By J.G.Posted on

Bergen Vicinage IT Manager Ron Bell will be sharing on a weekly basis helpful links regarding the use of Zoom technology for members of the Bergen County Bar Association.  This helpful Zoom links for this week are as follows:

  1. Here is a link to Zoom Meeting Plans and Prices:https://zoom.us.pricing  (Review the plans offered by Zoom and select one that best fits your needs.)
  2. Here is a link to a video on how to join a Zoom Meeting: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-How-Do-I-Join-A-Meeting
  3. Here is a link to a video on how to schedule a Zoom meeting through the Zoom website: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362413-How-Do-I-Schedule-Meetings- 

 

NOTICE: Clarification and Modification to Attorney Video Visitation & Electronic Discovery Notices to the Bar of April 28 and April 29

Author By J.G.Posted on

Clarification of April 28, 2020 Notice to the Bar regarding Electronic Discovery

This will serve as a clarification of the April 28, 2020 Notice to the Bar regarding Electronic Discovery.  As to the last paragraph of the notice, the Jail will confirm with Division Manager Darcy that the Defendant has received the discovery.

Modification of APRIL 29, 2020 Notice to the Bar Regarding Attorney Video Visitation

 This will serve as a modification of the April 29, 2020 Notice to the Bar Regarding Attorney Video Visitation.   There has been a change in personnel.   Attorneys will make a request for dates and times beginning Monday, May 4, 2020 for a video conference through the Bergen County Jail Law Library by emailing Ms. Jenith Velez at jvelez@bcsd.us rather than Ms. Keisha McLean. This request should include the attorney’s preference for time slots, between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., seven (7) days a week.

Clarification and Modification Notice to the Bar.pdf

 

NOTICE: Directive #13-20 – Sentencing Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author By J.G.Posted on

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, 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.

By Order dated April 20, 2020, the Supreme Court established parameters for sentencing, as follows: (I) sentencing hearings may proceed using remote options (phone or video) only with the consent of all parties; and (2) courts have the authority to stay the commencement of the custodial term for certain sentences in Criminal, Family, and Municipal matters. This directive implements those provisions of the Court’s April 20, 2020 Order.

The attached guidance sets forth options judges should consider on a case-by-case basis for sentencing proceedings, including sentences to state prison, probation, county jail and juvenile facilities.

Please follow the link below and read Directive #13-20 which explains the Sentencing Guidelines During the COVID-19 public health pandemic provided by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Directive 13-20 – Sentencing Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic – 04-30-20.pdf

NOTICE: Clarification of the Notice to the Bar of April, 28, 2020

Author By J.G.Posted on

NOTICE TO THE BAR

Clarification of April 28, 2020 Notice to the Bar Regarding Electronic Discovery

This will serve as a clarification of the April 28, 2020 Notice to the Bar regarding electronic discovery.  All discovery, both electronic and paper discovery, must be dropped off at the jail.  Discovery cannot be emailed to the jail.  Laptops will be provided to inmates to view electronic discovery in the order of priority as outlined in the April 28, 2020 Notice to the Bar.  With this one clarification, the April 28, 2020 Notice to the Bar is in full force and effect.

Attorney Video Visitation

During the COVID-19 shutdown, effective Monday, May 4, 2020 the Bergen County Jail will temporarily implement video visitation for attorneys to visit their clients.  While the jail does offer attorneys the opportunity to meet with their clients in person through a window, we recognize that during the pandemic many are uncomfortable and unwilling to do so.

Please be mindful that the jail’s resources for this endeavor are limited, and this procedure requires dedicating staff to supervise the inmate/detainee.  At the present time, jail personnel are only able to accommodate one video conference at a time.  In order to accommodate as many attorneys as possible, conferences will be scheduled in thirty (30) minute blocks of time.

Attorneys will make a request for dates and times beginning Monday, May 4, 2020 for a video conference through the Bergen County Jail Law Library by emailing Ms. Keisha McLean (kmclean@bcsd.us).  The request should include the attorney’s preference for time slots, between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., seven (7) days a week.

An email will be sent to the attorney approving a time slot.  When the request is approved, the attorney will set up the meeting in ZOOM.  The attorney will then forward a meeting invitation with the link to legalvisit@bcsd.us.  The ZOOM technology allows for confidential, secure, unrecorded meetings.  It is up to the meeting moderator, in this case the attorney, to implement the technology in the correct manner, implementing the security and privacy options that ZOOM offers in the way that best meets the needs of the attorney and client.

The procedure for telephone conferences remains in place.  We hope this allows sufficient opportunity for attorneys to have productive meetings with their clients.

 

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