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Tag Archives: Covid-19

NOTICE: Closing of the Newark Vicinage Courthouses

Author By J.G.Posted on

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR  THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

IN RE: CLOSINGS OF THE NEWARK VICINAGE COURTHOUSES STANDING ORDER NO. 2020-05 OF UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

STANDING ORDER NO. 2020-05

STANDING ORDER 

The Court has been informed that several federal employees who work in the Martin Luther King and Frank R. Lautenberg U.S. Courthouses (“Newark Courthouses”), located in Newark, New Jersey, have tested positive for COVID-19. To swiftly ensure the health and safety of the public, jurors, grand jurors, court and agency staff and judicial officers, from exposure to or spread of the disease;

 

With the concurrence of the Court Security Committee and the Executive Committee, the U.S. Marshal, and the Clerk of the Court, in consultations with GSA, it is ORDERED that both Newark Courthouses in Newark, New Jersey shall be CLOSED from Thursday, March 26, 2020, through Monday, April 6, 2020. No one will be permitted to enter the building during this closure with the exception of authorized cleaning personnel. This Standing Order does not affect the operation of the two courthouses in the Trenton and Camden Vicinages. The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey otherwise remains open for official business. The Court’s Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system is not affected by the closure, and parties may continue to file electronically.

 

DATED: March 26, 2020

/s/ Hon. Freda L. Wolfson

U.S. Chief District Judge

District of New Jersey

NOTICE: Message from Bergen County Assignment Judge Bonnie J. Mizdol

Author By J.G.Posted on

NOTICE TO THE BAR

     The past two weeks have presented enormous challenges, and it has been inspiring to witness the dedication of the Bergen Judiciary, our Trial Court Administrator, Laura Simoldoni, senior administrative staff and all of our judiciary employees.

Quoting Chief Justice Rabner,

Our mission at this time of crisis is straightforward and complex all at once.  In a society based upon the rule of law, it is essential that courts remain open and that the public has access to the justice system.  Victims of domestic violence, defendants awaiting pretrial release, civil litigants struggling to get needed relief and countless others cannot wait for weeks or months to be heard.  And the responsibility to provide them a fair forum and address their dispute – even at the most challenging of time – falls on the Judiciary.

We are striving to carry out that responsibility as safely as possible.  The health of court staff, judges and members of the public is at stake and that concern has and will continue to guide all of our decisions about administering the courts at this time.

I have and continue to remain in daily communication with your Executive Director, Frank O’Marra, to provide the most up-to-date information available to the Bergen County Bar Association. Read More

NOTICE: Tax Court Operations

Author By J.G.Posted on

The Tax Court has transitioned to virtual courtrooms. The Court had its first virtual trial on Wednesday March 25, 2020. For the foreseeable future all proceedings which would normally be held in-person (oral arguments on motions, trials, Chapter 91 hearings) will be conducted via Zoom and live streamed by the Judiciary at https://njcourts.gov/public/channels.html. In the event you have a matter before the Tax Court you will be contacted by chambers with instructions on how to log-in and how to upload documents. Questions can be directed to Tax Court IT department at 609-815-2922 ext. 54646.

 

NOTICE: Rule Relaxation Regarding “Courtesy Copies” of Civil Motion Papers

Author By J.G.Posted on

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 continues to implement all possible measures to apply social distancing in court operations consistent with the recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health (“NJ DOH”) and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”).

The Judiciary accordingly has closed comi buildings to the public and adjusted the operations of court offices to reduce the risk of exposure to or transmission of the virus.

Executive Order 107 (March 21, 2020) imposed strict limitations on the operations of “brick-and-mortar” businesses and required telecommuting to the greatest extent possible, causing law firms to transition expeditiously to remote work operations with few if any attorneys or staff working from their law firm offices. Read More

NOTICE: Suspending Depositions and Appearances of Medical Professionals Involved in Addressing COVID-19

Author By J.G.Posted on

SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY

In response to the still expanding public health crisis worldwide and in this state involving the COVID-19 coronavirus, the New Jersey Judiciary continues to modify court operations to the fullest extent possible in accordance with the recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health (“NJ DOH”) and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”).

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a critical need for the uninterrupted services of many doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals.

Recognizing that critical need, it is ORDERED that effective immediately through Sunday, April 26, 2020, all depositions of and all required appearances for any doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals who are involved in responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency are suspended, except for appearances and depositions (i) that are requested by the doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional; or (ii) that are for matters related to COVID-19.

For the Court

/s/ Stuart Rabner

Chief Justice

Dated: March 24, 2020

NOTICE: Additional Measures Due to the Exigent Circumstances of COVID-19

Author By J.G.Posted on

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT

COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF

NEW JERSEY

STANDING ORDER 2020-04

In light of the circumstances identified in this Court’s Standing Order 2020-02 and as a result of expected delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, this Court issues the following Supplemental Order:

IT IS on this 24th date of March, 2020,

ORDERED that all filing and discovery deadlines in civil matters that currently fall between March 25, 2020 and April 30, 2020, are

EXTENDED by forty-five (45) days, unless the presiding judge in an individual case directs otherwise after the date of this Order. This extension does not apply to any scheduled dates of conferences, which are controlled by the presiding judge;

ORDERED that this Standing Order does not toll or extend any applicable statute of limitations; and it is further

ORDERED that any litigant in a civil matter may seek relief from this Order in a case which that litigant believes is emergent or otherwise requires immediate relief.

 

/s/ Hon. Freda L. Wilson,

U.S. Chief District Judge

District of New Jersey

NOTICE: Bergen County Courthouse Emergent Phone Numbers

Author By J.G.Posted on

As you know, there are currently no in-person court proceedings, except for limited emergent matters, because of concerns related to COVID-19. In the event you have an emergent matter in the Bergen Vicinage please call our main telephone number (201) 221-0700.

For Family Division matter per docket type please use the following extension:

DV Matters – 25168

FM Matters – 25237

FJ Matters – 25205

CIC Matters – 25216

For Criminal Division Trial matters please call either extension 25007 or 25008.

For Pretrial matters call extension 25009.

For Civil Division matters please use the following extensions: 25722.

For Child Support matters, please call (877) 655-4371.

For the Fiance Division please call extension 25135 or 25136.

These extensions are being constantly monitored. In the event you leave a voice mail message, you will receive a call back from staff.

 

/s/ Laura Simoldoni,

Trial Court Administrator

Dated: March 24, 2020

NOTICE: In the Matter of Request to Commute or Spend Certain County Jail Sentences

Author By J.G.Posted on

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

NJ Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 107 – Operations of Law Firm Employees and Staff

Author By J.G.Posted on

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.

Governor Murphy Executive Order No. 107. pdf

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