COVID-19 trends throughout New Jersey are encouraging, making it possible for the Judiciary to continue to increase on-site presence of Superior and Municipal Court judges and state court employees in court locations. That larger percentage of judges and employees will support more in-person court events and expanded availability of in-person court services. At the same time, the Judiciary will continue to provide remote options, both for court services and for those court proceedings that can be effectively conducted in a remote format. As we have throughout COVID-19, the Judiciary will continue to prioritize the health and safety of all court users.
The Supreme Court has authorized the resumption of commercial landlord tenant trials effective June 2, 2021. At this time, settlement conferences and trials generally will be conducted in a virtual format, although the trial court may determine to proceed in person in a particular matter based on the individual facts of the case. The Court’s June 2, 2021 Order is attached.
Questions about this notice or the Court’s order 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: June 2, 2021
Order – Resumption of Commercial Landlord Tenant Trials – as signed – dated 06-02-21.pdf
Our criminal part judges continue to handle criminal matters by utilizing technology to enable parties to appear remotely.
I have assigned our criminal part judges to handle emergent matters for the months of July & August, 2021 as set forth in the schedule listed below. Of course, this schedule is subject to any Phase changes that may be implemented.
The schedule is as follows:
This notice referenced in the following link below, provides a comprehensive update on the resumption of in-person jury trials and the continuation of virtual civil jury trials pursuant to the Supreme Court’s May 11, 2021 Order. It supersedes the September 11, 2020 notice.
Use the link below to access the revised Guidelines for Court-Appointed Attorneys in Guardianship Matters, and the form Report of Court-Appointed Counsel for the Alleged Incapacitated Person.
Links to the revised Guidelines and fillable Microsoft Word Document form Report are also available on the Judiciary’s Guardianship Support/Guardianship Monitoring Program web page, found at the following link: Guardianship Support / Guardianship Monitoring Program (njcourts.gov).
Guidelines for CAAs in Guardianship Matters (2021).pdf
Report of Court-Appointed Counsel for the Alleged Incapacitated Person Form.pdf
The Supreme Court has authorized the resumption of in-person grand jury sessions effective June 15, 2021. The Court’s May 11, 2021 Order is attached.
Grand juries may resume in person as of that date with appropriate health protocols, including face masks and social distancing. As of August 1, 2021, all counties are to have at least one in-person grand jury panel in place. As set forth in the Court’s Order, “based on current limits to on-site presence and in-person court events in court and other locations – specifically the need to maintain social distancing and to preserve court space for in-person criminal jury trials – grand juries also may continue to convene temporarily in a virtual format.”
The Court in a separate May 11, 2021 Order also has authorized the resumption of in-person petit jury proceedings.
Questions about this notice may 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: May 11, 2021
Notice and Order – Resumption of Socially Distanced In-Person Grand Jury Sessions – 05-11-21.pdf
The Supreme Court has authorized the resumption of in-person criminal jury trials, and some in-person civil jury trials, effective on or after June 15, 2021. Criminal jury trials will be conducted in person and will be the priority, with cases that involve detained defendants continuing to receive the highest priority. Most civil jury trials at present will continue to be conducted in a virtual format. The Court’s May 11, 2021 Order is attached.
The Court’s authorization to resume in-person jury trials is based on improved COVID-19 trends throughout New Jersey. In-person jury trials will be conducted with necessary health precautions, including social distancing and the requirement that participants wear face masks except in limited circumstances when other health protections are in place. As announced in this May 6, 2021 notice, up to 50% of judges and state court employees will be present in state court locations as of June 15, 2021. Those on-site judges and state court employees will support upcoming in-person jury trials and other court events.
The Court in a separate May 11, 2021 Order also has authorized the resumption of in-person grand jury sessions, which must be conducted with necessary health precautions.
Questions about this notice may 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: May 11, 2021
Effective June 15, 2021, up to 50% of judges and state court employees may be present on-site in state court locations. Consistent with public health guidance, the Judiciary will increase on-site presence gradually and with the understanding that we may change direction if COVID-19 trends worsen in the future.
The Judiciary throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been guided by the recommendations of public health authorities, including the New Jersey Department of Health (NJ DOH). Today, and based on positive trends statewide, key public health indicators regarding COVID-19 in New Jersey are encouraging. New cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been decreasing for several weeks and continue to decline. In all regions of the state, the COVID-19 Activity Level Index (CALI) is moderate. Subject to continued appropriate precautions, these data support an increase in on-site presence of judges and state court employees.
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The Supreme Court has approved a Background Screening Policy for Proposed Guardians of Incapacitated Adults (the “policy”). This directive promulgates that new policy and related new and revised court forms. It also provides guidance for use of the new policy, which will apply to guardians in matters filed on or after May 15, 2021.
The Supreme Court has approved a background screening policy for certain proposed guardians of incapacitated adults. The Court also has amended Rule 4:86 (“Action for Guardianship of an Incapacitated Person or for the Appointment of a Conservator”) so as to implement the policy. As approved by the Judicial Council, a new Certification of Criminal and Civil Judgment History has been promulgated, along with revised versions of a number of other court forms.
Proposed guardians in matters filed on or after May 15, 2021 will be subject to this new background screening policy. Directive #11-21 (“Guardianships of Incapacitated Adults – Background Screening Policy for Proposed Guardians; New and Revised Court Forms”) promulgates the new policy as well as the new and revised forms. This memo outlines the steps necessary for implementation of the policy.