As reflected in the court’s Automated Case Management System, pretrial judicial settlement conferences, scheduled to be conducted by the Hon. Lisa Perez-Friscia, J.S.C., through April 3, 2020, are CANCELLED. Civil Judges in Bergen – including Judge Perez-Friscia – may call counsel and initiate settlement conferences telephonically. The Bar is advised to check ACMS for scheduling updates on their cases.
/s/ Hon. Robert L. Polifroni, P.J.Cv.
Dated: March 24, 2020
This matter having come before the Court on the request for relief by the Office of the Public Defender (see attached letter dated March 19, 2020), seeking the Court’s consideration of a proposed Order to Show Cause (see attached) designed to commute or suspend county jail sentences currently being served by county jail inmates either as a condition of probation for an indictable offense or because of a municipal court conviction; and
The Court, on its own motion, having relaxed the Rules of Court to permit the filing of this request for relief directly with the Supreme Court, based on the dangers posed by COVID-19, and the statewide impact of the nature of the request in light of the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor. See Executive Order No. 103 (2020) (Mar. 9, 2020);
And for good cause shown; it is Read More
The Supreme Court issued an order late Sunday night that will suspend or commute county jail sentences for low-risk inmates in light of the public health emergency caused by coronavirus COVID-19.
The order commutes or suspends county jail sentences currently being served by county jail inmates either as a condition of probation for an indictable offense or because of a municipal court conviction. It directs their release no later than 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The Supreme Court on Friday relaxed the rules of the court to accept a petition from the Office of the Public Defender in response to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in county jails. Read More
New Jersey Governor Phillip Murphy’s Executive Order No. 107
Paragraphs 10 and 11
The following paragraphs below come from Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 107 in response due to the growing concerns of the COVID-19 virus. These paragraphs relate to the practice and operations of law firm staff and employees. Other businesses, including law firms, are directed to have most of their workforce, “wherever practicable,” telework from home, with the exception of employees who cannot perform their functions via these arrangements.The order lists examples of employees who need to be physically present as those who perform general building maintenance, IT maintenance and administrative functions, among others.
” (10) All businesses or non-profits in the State, whether closed or open to the public, must accommodate their workforce, wherever practicable, for telework or work-from-home arrangements. For purposes of this order, “telework” means the practice of working from home or alternative locations closer to home through the use of technology that equips the individual to access necessary materials.
(11) To the extent a business or non-profit has employees that cannot perform their functions via telework or work-from-home arrangements, the business or non-profit should make best efforts to reduce staff on site to the minimal number necessary to ensure that essential operations can continue. Examples of employees who need to be physically present at their work site in order to perform their duties include, but are not limited to, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and other first responders, cashiers or store clerks, construction workers, utility workers, repair workers, warehouse workers, lab researchers, information technology maintenance workers, janitorial and custodial staff, and certain administrative staff.”
Below is the link to Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 107. Previously cited paragraphs 10 and 11 are relocated on page 10.
I never imagined that this would be the first address I would give to our members.
I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and safe. You should know that the Bergen County Bar Association continues to operate during this difficult time in order to serve our members and provide as much information to you as possible.
To accomplish this objective, I have coordinated daily contact with the Sheriff’s Department, the office of the County Executive and Assignment Judge Mizdol in order to provide you with the most current information available. Our executive board is in frequent discussions in order to keep you apprised as to updated protocols. For example as we receive information regarding attorney visits at the jail, and attorney video conferencing for court proceedings we will advise you as quickly as possible. You are encouraged to visit our website for this information and to check your emails for our e-blasts.
We have been through many hard times and we have always been able to overcome them. This time is no different. We should continue to practice with the utmost professionalism that is characteristic of our Association’s members.
Warmest regards,
BCBA President
Joseph A. Maurice, Esq.
Bergen County Assignment Judge Bonnie J. Mizdol administers the Oath of Office to our Association’s new President, Joseph A. Maurice in the judge’s courtroom on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Pictured with the judge and President Maurice is Assistant Prosecutor and wife, Demetra Maurice.
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
WHEREAS, a national emergency has been declared and the Governor of New Jersey has declared a State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency because of the COVID-19 coronavirus public health crisis, with statewide implementation of social distancing measures to attempt to slow the spread of the virus; and
WHEREAS, those measures are resulting in unprecedented closures and cancellations throughout the state such that corporate and residential property taxpayers are severely disrupted in their ability to meet filing deadlines in property tax appeals before the County Boards of Taxation and the New Jersey Tax Court; Read More
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
In response to the growing public health crisis worldwide and in this state involving the COVID-19 coronavirus, 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 (“NJ DOH”) and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”).
Based on the large number of persons required for jury and grand jury panels, on March 12, 2020, the Judiciary suspended all reporting for jury service except for ongoing trials and directed that no new criminal jury trials would be conducted until further notice, and on March 17, 2020, the Court postponed the empanelment of all grand juries, including the State Grand Jury, and cancelled all current grand jury sessions, including the State Grand Jury, effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, through Friday, March 27, 2020
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that, effective immediately: Read More
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
In response to the growing public health crisis worldwide and in this state involving the COVID-19 coronavirus, 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 (“NJ DOH”) and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”).
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that effective immediately and until further order: Read More
UPDATE ON BERGEN COUNTY JAIL & RESCINDED COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-1B