IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to N.J. Const. Art. VI, sec. 2, par. 3, that, effective immediately and until further order, the provisions of Rule 3:4-2 (“First Appearance After Filing Complaint; Prehearing Rights Advisement”) and Rule 7:4-1 (“Right To Pretrial Release”) of the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey are relaxed and supplemented as follows:
When the eligible defendant is charged with a crime or offense involving the use or possession of a firearm, the prosecutor may request that the 48-hour release decision be extended. The extension may not exceed the time that is reasonably necessary to conduct a firearms ballistic analysis and provide that to the court. In no event shall the extension exceed seven days.
This rule relaxation is adopted to conform with L. 2025, c. 256, which amended the Criminal Justice Reform Act (CJRA), N.J.S.A. 2A:162-15 et seq., effective January 12, 2026.
This rule relaxation shall remain in effect pending the adoption of appropriate conforming rule amendments.
Document Date: Jan. 21, 2026
Publish Date: Jan. 22, 2026