News and Notices

The most recent COVID-19 related news affecting the practice of law in New Jersey, 
as well as links to various notices to the bar.   

NEWS  

NJSBA Letter to Governor Murphy re: COVID-19 Vaccines for Legal Workers – January 7, 2021
Read it here

NJSBA Letter to Chief Justice Rabner Re: Municipal Court/Plea by Mail – November 5, 2020
Read it here  

Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order 192 – Workplace COVID-19 Safety Rules for Employers – October 28, 2020
Read it here  

NJSBA Works with Legal Community Regarding 2020 Bar Exam
Read more here  

In-Person Bar Exam Cancelled; Remote Exam Set for October – July 15, 2020
Read more here

ABA and Clio partner to position legal profession for success – June 10, 2020
Find out more here

The FBI has identified multiple COVID-19 email phishing campaigns with malicious file attachments and URL – May 4, 2020
Read about it here

United States Secret Service – Increase in Extortionate Emails – Information Only Alert – May 1, 2020
Read it here
   
Labor Department Posts guide to Help Unemployed Workers Claim Weekly Benefits – April 24, 2020
Read it here 
   
Executive Order 128 Re: Use of Tenant Security Deposits – April 24, 2020
Read it here

News Release – New Dates Announced for July Bar Exam – April 13, 2020
Read more here  

News Release – NJ Supreme Court Allows 2020 Law School Graduates to Temporarily Practice Law Despite Postponement of Bar Exam – April 6, 2020
Read it here

Zoom Bulletin – Best Practices to Stay Cyber Safe on Zoom – April 3, 2020
Read it here

Executive Order 114 – GOVERNOR MURPHY DIRECTS U.S. AND NEW JERSEY FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF INDEFINITELY IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES OR HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID-19 – April 3, 2020
Read it here

Association asks Court to issue long-term plan to direct profession through pandemic – March 27, 2020
Read it here
      
Gov. Murphy Announces Mortgage Payment Relief, Financial Protections – March 28, 2020
Read it here

NJSBA Letter Urges Division of Workers’ Compensation to Resume Hearing Emergent Matters – March 27, 2020
Read it here

NJSBA Letter Urges Closure of the Newark and Elizabeth Immigration Courts – March 26, 2020
Read it here
   
NJSBA Letter Re: Emergency Tax Proposals – Extension of State Tax-Related Deadlines – March 25, 2020
Read it here

NJSBA Letter Re: A3903 (Downey) – Allows remote notarial acts during Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020 – March 24, 2020
Read it here

NJSBA Letter to Governor Murphy re: Real Estate Transactions
Read the letter here

Executive Order directs businesses, including law firms, to operate with limited in-office operations; urges workforces to telework
Read the Order

Executive Order 107
Read the Order

NJSBA Tells Officials Lawyers and Law Firms Should be Viewed as Essential
Read the letter

Capitol Report: Pending legislation could help small businesses/law firms affected by COVID-19 pandemic
Read it here

NOTICES
   
Access the New Jersey Judiciary’s website here. Court notices related to COVID-19, in order of most recent to oldest, are also directly linked to below.  

Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2021-1 Governing Dismissals of Certain Pending Marijuana Charges – February 22, 2021
Read it here

S3454 Underage Possession and Use
Read it here

A1897 Marijuana Decriminalization
Read it here

Notice – Elimination of Emergent Filing Mailboxes; Affirmation of Requirement to File in eCourts or in the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission System – December 28, 2020
Read it here  

Supplement to Directive 20-20 – Landlord-Tenant – CARES Act Certification – Procedure for Non-Compliance – November 10, 2020
Read it here

Notice – COVID-19 – Continuation of Remote First Court Operations with Limited In-Person Events and Services – November 17, 2020
Read it here  

Order – COVID-19 – Suspension of New In-Person Jury Trials and In-Person Grand Jury Sessions; Revised End-Dates for Excludable Time – November 16, 2020
Read it here  

Notice and Order – COVID-19 Adoption of New Rule 3-4-7 – Pre-Indictment Hearings – November 10, 2020
Read it here   

Notice – COVID-19 – Cash Payments for Child Support; Limited Reopening of Courthouse Finance Window – October 15, 2020
Read it here  

Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Landlord-Tenant – Relaxation of Rule 1-40-12 to Expand Pool of Settlors for Pretrial and Settlement Conferences – Parts 1 and 2 – October 9, 2020 and September 30, 2020
Read it here  

Notice and Order – Attorneys Appearing in LT Pretrial and Settlement Conferences as Part of Limited Representation – Relaxation of Rule 1-11-2 – Parts 1 and 2 – October 9 ,2020 and September 30, 2020
Read it here

Vicinage 15 COVID-19 Protocols for Inmate In-Court Appearances – October 2, 2020
Read it here  

Updated Supplement to Directive 23-06 – Virtual Grand Jury Charge and Oath – September 30, 2020
Read it here

Notice – COVID-19 – Update on Court Operations During Phase 2.5 of the Supreme Court’s Post-Pandemic Plan – September 22, 2020
Read it here

Notice – COVID-19 – Additional Guidance on the Requirement to Wear Face Masks in Court Facilities – September 22, 2020
Read it here  

Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Eighth Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice – September 17, 2020
Read it here  

Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Order Providing Additional Information on First New Jury Trials – September 17, 2020
Read it here  

Notice to the Bar: COVID-19 – Protocols for Sidebar Communications and Confidential Attorney-Client Communications During In-Person Court Events – September 11, 2020
Read it here

Middlesex County Resuming Courthouse Operations –A Review of the Logistics – August 14, 2020

Read it here

Notice – Revised Instructions for Submitting SASPA Protective Order Applications During COVID-19 – August 13, 2020

Read it here

Notice – COVID-19 – Update on Court Operations During Phase 2 of the Supreme Court’s Post-Pandemic Plan – August 12, 2020

Read it here

Notice – COVID-19 – Statewide Policy Regarding COVID-19 Exposure Risks in Judiciary Facilities – August 3, 2020
Read it here

Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Seventh Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice – July 24, 2020
Read it here

Corrected Versions of Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Landlord/Tenant – Amendment of Summons and Complaint Forms (Rules Appendices); Rule Relaxations; Orders to Show Cause – July 14, 2020
Read it here

Notice and Order – Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Program – Expansion to State Grand Jury – June 25, 2020
Read it here

Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Fifth Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice – June 25, 2020
Read it here

Addendum to Directive 01-17 – COVID-19 Pandemic – Affirmation and Expansion of New Jersey Judiciary Language Access Plan for Remote Court Events – June 19, 2020
Read it here 

Notice – Appellate Division Procedures to Expedite Appeals from Denial of Medical Furlough Applications – June 15, 2020
Read it here

Notice and Order – Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Program – Expansion to Grand Jury Selection – Order dated June 9, 2020; Notice dated June 12, 2020
Read it here

Notice and Addendum to Directive 12-20 – Records of Remote Court Proceedings – June 12, 2020
Read it here  

Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Fourth Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice – June 11, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar – NJ Courts Post-Pandemic Plain – Transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2 – June 10, 2020
Read it here

NJ Courts Post-Pandemic Plan – Transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2 – June 11, 2020
Find out more here

Message from Hon. Russell Wojtenko Jr., Director and Chief Judge of Compensation – Full Time Judges to Hear Their Regular Lists – June 9, 2020
Read it here

Message from Chief Judge Wolfson, Chief Judge USDC – IMPORTANT PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY – Phase One of the District Court’s Recovery Plan will be pushed forward to June 8 – June 1, 2020
Read it here.
      
Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Third Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice  – May 28, 2020
Read it here

Directive 17-20 – Co-Occurring No-Contact Release Conditions and Domestic Violence or Custody Matters – May 22, 2020
Read it here

Directive #16-20 – “Guidance for Megan’s Law Proceedings During the COVID-19 Pandemic” – May 18, 2020
Read it here
   
Notice and Order Clarifying Four Provisions of the Second Omnibus Order re Court Operations During COVID-19 – May 15, 2020
Read it here
   
Supplement to Directive 23-06 — Supplement to Grand Jury Charge and Oath of Secrecy for the Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Project – May 15, 2020
Read it here
   
Notice – Directive 15-20 and the Updated Statewide Violations Bureau Schedule – May 15, 2020
Read it here
   
Directive 15-20 – Promulgation of Updated Statewide Violations Bureau Schedule – May 15, 2020
Read it here
   
Notice and Order – Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Program – May 14, 2020
Read it here

Notice – June 3 Virtual Public Hearing on Proposed Rule Amendments – May 14, 2020
Read it here

Supplemental Drug Offense Plea Form – Second Suppl to Directive 01-18 – May  11, 2020
Get it here

Notice to the Bar: OTSC State Prisoners – filed May 11, 2020
Read it here

Notice and Order – Electronic Filing and JEDS – Rules 1-5-6 and 1-32-2A – May 8, 2020
Read it here

Notice: Hunterdon County – Virtual Court Availability on Election Day May 12, 2020 – May 8, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Additional Workers’ Compensation Judges – May 8, 2020
Read it here

Notice – Passaic County – Virtual Court Availability on Election Day May 12, 2020 – May 7, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Workers’ Compensation Court Closed to the Pubic Until May 26, 2020 – May 7, 2020
Read it here

Notice – Atlantic and Cape May Counties – Virtual Court Availability on Election Day May 12, 2020 – May 7, 2020
Read it here

Notice and Order – Temporarily Authorizing Out-of-State Attorneys During COVID-19 to Provide Pro Bono Legal Services Under Supervision – notice dated May 6, 2020, order dated May 4 2020
Read it here

Notice: Civil Arbitration Program – Cancellation of May 14 Initial Arbitrator Training – May 5, 2020
Read it here

Directive #13-20 – Sentencing Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic – April 30, 2020
Read it here

Notice – Public Access to Court Events During COVID-19 – Directives 11-20 and 12-20 – April 28, 2020
Read it here

Directive 12-20 – Principles and Protocols for Virtual Court Operations During COVID-19 – April 27, 2020
Read it here

Directive #11-20 – Supreme Court Guidelines on Media Access and Electronic Devices in the Courts – April 27, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Additional Workers’ Compensation Judges – April 27, 2020
Read it here

Notice – Emergency Adoption by NJDEP Regarding Site Remediation Rules – April 24, 2020
Read it here

Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Second Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice – April 24, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Conducting MESP Session Remotely During COVID-19 – Updated Instructions and Guidance – April 22, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Workers’ Compensation Courts Closed Until May 11, 2020 – dated April 22, 2020
Read it here

Order re: Tax Appeals Deadlines – Further Supplementing the March 19 Order – April 21, 2020
Read it here  

Notice and Order – Continuation of Remote Court Proceedings; Public Access; Sentencing – April 20, 2020
Read it here 

United States District Court, District of New Jersey
Standing Order 2020-10 issued by the U.S. District Court of New Jersey regarding habeas petitions from immigration detainees seeking immediate release due to COVID-19 – April 17, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) System Tax Appeals – Attorneys Required to File Case Initiating Documents in JEDS – April 17, 2020
Read it here

Notice: Civil Arbitration – COVID-19 – Conducting Arbitrations by Video or Telephone – April 16, 2020
Read it here

Notice – Deadline Extensions and Tolling Periods in the Appellate Division Related to COVID-19 – April 15, 2020
Read it here

Important Announcement from the NJDOBI – April 13, 2020
Read it here

Order – COVID-19 – Clarifying That No Tolling Was Intended for Pretrial Detention Appeals – April 9, 2020
Read it here

Order – COVID-19 – Extension of Due Date of Judicial Financial Reporting Statements for Reporting Year 2019 – April 7, 2020
Read it here

Order – Extension of Timeframes for Municipal Court Administrator Certificate Program – April 7, 2020
Read it here

Notice – Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) System – April 9, 2020
Read it here

Notice and Order – Relaxation of Rule 4:86 regarding guardianship of incapacitated adults to allow interviews and examinations over video or phone – April 8, 2020
Read it here

Order Permitting Electronic Service by Email on the State of New Jersey – Relaxation of Rule 4:4-4(a)(7) – April 7, 2020
Read it here  

Extension of Tax Appeal Deadlines — COVID-19 — Supplemental/Clarifying Order – April 6, 2020
Read it here
      
Notice: SASPA Procedures Modified to Address COVID-19 – April 2, 2020
Read it here

Directive #10-20 – Process for Search Warrants and Communications Data Warrants in Response to COVID-19 – April 1, 2020
Read it here

Letter on Middlesex County Court Procedures from Assignment Judge Michael A. Toto to the Middlesex County Bar Association – March 31, 2020
Read it here
   
Notice to the Bar: COVID-19 – Family Division – (1) Conducting MESPs by Phone or Video; (2) Temporary Suspension of DV Economic Mediation Program – March 31, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Vicinage XV Municipal Court Virtual Bench/Bar meeting – Thursday April 2 at 3:30
Get the details here

Notice Regarding the Court’s March 27 Omnibus Order on COVID-19 Issues – March 29, 2020
Read it here

Judiciary Leaders Express Gratitude for State’s Attorneys – March 28, 2020
Read it here

Notice To Bar – Limited Reopening of N.J. WC Courts – March 27, 2020
Read it here

Executive Summary – New Jersey Judiciary’s Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis – March 27, 2020
Read it here

Omnibus Order on COVID-19 Issues – March 27, 2020 

 Read it here

Notice: Morris County Probation Office Information – March 26, 2020
Read it here

Notice: Camden County Correctional Facility Attorney Video Visit Hours – March 26, 2020
Read it here 

NOTICE TO THE BAR Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 13 Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Emergent Application Mailboxes – March 25, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Extension of Comment Period for 2018-2020 Rules Report – March 25, 2020
Read it here

Standing Order – Temporary Closing of the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse in Philadelphia – March 25, 2020
Read it here

Rule Relaxation Order – Courtesy Copies of Civil Motion Papers and Filings During the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis– March 25, 2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Emergent Applications During COVID-19 Crisis: Webpage; New Vicinage Email Mailboxes for Attorneys and Litigants – March 24, 2020
Read it here

County Surrogate Information During Covid-19 Pandemic
Find out more here

Supreme Court Order Suspending Depositions and Appearances of Medical Professionals Involved in Addressing COVID-19
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: Emergent Applications During COVID-19 Crisis – Webpage; New Vicinage Email Mailboxes for Attorneys and Litigants
Read the Notice here

Standing Order 2020-04 United States District Court for the District of New Jersey regarding filing and discovery deadlines in civil litigation matters
Read it here

New Jersey Courts –  How to Join and Participate in a Zoom Virtual Courtroom
Get the Instruction Guide here.

Notice to the Bar: Municipal Court Session Cancellations: Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties
Read it here

New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Court Update

Read it here

Message from Assignment Judge Peter F. Bariso Jr. re: Brennan Courthouse
Read it here

Salem/Cumberland/Gloucester County Superior Court emergent filing information
Read the update here

Message to the Bar from the Hon. Sallyanne Floria Assignment Judge of the Superior Court Essex Cty
Read it here

Supreme Court-Ordered Mediation Yields Agreement on Release of Low-Risk County Jail Inmates
Read it here

Update from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office
Read it here

 

CCBA Family Law Teleconference
Read the message here

Morris/Sussex Vicinage Emergent Matters & Proceedings Update
Read it here

IMPORTANT Cape May County Update – March 20, 2020
Read it here

ORDER MODIFYING § 4 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION BOARD REGULATIONS – March 19, 2020
Read it here

Access to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office during the Coronvirus (COVID-19) Epidemic – March 19, 2020
Read to notice here

News from the Third Circuit – March 19, 2020
Read the release here

Executive Order 106 – Moratorium on Eviction/Foreclosure Removals – March 19, 2020
Read it here

Order – Criminal – COVID-19 Related Excludable Time – March 19, 2020
Read it here

Order Extending Tax Appeal Filing deadlines – March 19, 2020
Read it here

Order – Civil Arbitrations and MESP Sessions – March 19, 2020
Read it here

Message from the Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation to NJSBA Workers’ Compensation Section members
Read it here

Mercer County Civil/Family Courthouse Closed Until 3-30-2020
Read it here

Sussex County Courthouse will be closed today. Emergent applications will be handled in Morris. 3/19/2020
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: ATTORNEY CERTIFICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 29, 2020
Read it here

Letter to Bergen County Executive from NJSBA President Evelyn Padin: NJSBA tells officials lawyers and law firms should be viewed as essential
Read it here

Letter to Governor Murphy from NJSBA President Evelyn Padin Re: Bergen County Executive Order No. 2020-1B
Read it here

Order – Adjourning Civil Commitment Initial Hearings – Adult and Juvenile – COVID-19 Coronavirus
Read it here

Third Circuit Court of Appeals Notice Regarding Operations
Read it here

Immigration Court in Newark Closed
Read it here 

Directive #09-20 – Family – Order to Show Cause – Model Form for Dissolution, Non-Dissolution, an Domestic Violence (FM, FD & FV) Dockets
Read it here

Supreme Court Order – Extending Discovery Deadlines and Tolling Filing Deadlines
Read it here

Supreme Court Order – Relaxing Municipal Court Plea by Mail Rules to Remove Undue Hardship Requirement
Read it here

Supreme Court Order — No New Grand Jury Selections or Sessions Through March 27
Read it here

Bergen County Executive Order No. 2020-1B UPDATE – effective date of the Executive Order will be delayed until Saturday. Read more here
Read it here

Notice to the Bar: IOLTA – COVID-19 Related Office Closing and Extending Registration deadline
Read it here

United States District Court for the District of New Jersey – Order re: Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 – March 16, 2020
Read it here

New Jersey Supreme Court Order Tolling Filing Dates for March 10, 2020 eCourts Outage – March 12, 2020
Read it here.

Notice to the Bar: NJ Court Operations – COVID-19 Coronavirus: Rescheduling of In-Court Proceedings Scheduled for the Week Beginning March 16, 2020; Continuation of All Critical Functions – March 15, 2020
Read the notice here.

Office of Administrative Law – Important message from Chief Judge Ellen S. Bass
Read it here.

Notice to the Bar: Chief Justice Rabner Announces Two-Week Suspension 
of Municipal Court Sessions – March 14, 2020
Read the notice here.

Notice to the Bar: Suspension of Landlord/Tenant Sessions for Two Weeks – March 14, 2020
Read the notice here.

Notice to the Bar: Municipal Courts – Rescheduling of Court Sessions Scheduled March 16 – March 27, 2020 – March 14, 2020 
Read the notice here.  

Chief Justice Rabner Suspends New Jury Trials in Response to Coronavirus – March 12, 2020
Read the press release  

For older news and notices click here.