NJCourts COVID-19 Updates
Please check back often for the latest information.
The New Jersey Courts resumed some in-person court services on Monday, June 22. A small number of judges and court staff are working on-site each day. The rest continue to work remotely to ensure safe distancing can be maintained.
Courthouses and court facilities are open only to attorneys, litigants, and members of the public with scheduled proceedings or appointments. While the courts are conducting most matters remotely, judges can schedule an in-person proceeding based on the facts and circumstances in any case.
Contact the court if you have questions about filing emergent applications or about a scheduled hearing, motion, conference, or other matter.
Press Releases
- July 22, 2020 - New Jersey Judiciary to Resume Jury Trials
- July 15, 2020 - In-Person Bar Exam Cancelled; Remote Exam Set for October
- July 09, 2020 - Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Program Returns Dozens of Indictments
- June 22, 2020 - New Jersey Courts Enter Second Phase of Post-Pandemic Plan
- June 17, 2020 - Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage to Hold Virtual Program on Resolving Municipal Warrants
- June 10, 2020 - Supreme Court Approves Post-Pandemic Plan
- June 2, 2020 - Chief Justice Rabner Administers Oath to New Attorneys in Virtual Ceremony
- May 29, 2020 - Judiciary Ombudsmen: Bridging the Digital Divide to Help Those Without Tech Resources
- May 14, 2020 - Judiciary Launches Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Program
- May 11, 2020 - Vicinages to Conduct Virtual Court Election Day Hearings
- May 11, 2020 - Supreme Court Order Opens Municipal Courts for Business
- April 24, 2020 - Supreme Court Order Resumes Some Court Operations, Extends Suspension of Others
- April 9, 2020 - New Jersey Judiciary Launches Expanded Electronic Filing System
- April 6, 2020 - NJ Supreme Court Allows 2020 Law School Graduates to Temporarily Practice Law Despite Postponement of Bar Exam
- March 27, 2020 - Supreme Court Order Extends COVID-19 - Related Suspensions of Court Proceedings and Other Matters
- March 23, 2020 - Supreme Court-Ordered Mediation Yields Agreement on Release of Low-Risk County Jail Inmates
- March 15, 2020 - New Jersey Courts Postpone In-Person Proceedings
- March 14, 2020 - Chief Justice Rabner Announces Two - Week Suspension of Municipal Court Sessions
- March 12, 2020 - Chief Justice Rabner Suspends New Jury Trials in Response to Coronavirus
Orders and Notices to the Bar
- Sept. 23, 2020 COVID-19 - Additional Guidance on the Requirement to Wear Face Masks in Court Facilities
- Sept. 23, 2020 Notice - COVID-19 - Update on Court Operations During “Phase 2.5” of the Supreme Court's Post-Pandemic Plan
- Sept. 18, 2020 Notice and Order – COVID-19 – First New Jury Trials – Additional Information on Statewide Schedule, Selection of Cases, and Options for Virtual Selection
- Sept. 18, 2020 Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Eighth Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice
- Sept. 14, 2020 Notice - COVID-19 - Update on Resumption of Criminal and Civil Jury Trials; Next Steps
- Sept. 11, 2020 Notice - COVID-19 - Protocols for Sidebar Communications and Confidential Attorney-Client Communications During In-Person Court Events
- Aug. 14, 2020 Notice – Revised Instructions for Submitting SASPA Protective Order Application During COVID-19
- Aug. 12, 2020 Notice - COVID-19 - Update on Court Operations During Phase 2 of the Supreme Court's Post-Pandemic Plan
- Aug. 4, 2020 Notice to the Bar and Public – COVID-19 – Statewide Policy Regarding COVID-19 Exposure Risks in Judiciary Facilities
- July 28, 2020 Directive #20-20 -- Special Civil Part - Landlord/Tenant Matters During COVID-19
- July 28, 2020 Directive #19-20 – Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) – Procedure for Taking Applications Remotely
- July 24, 2020 Notice and Order - COVID-19 - Seventh Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice
- July 22, 2020 Notice and Order – Resuming Criminal and Civil Jury Trials – with Appended Report (updated Aug. 14, 2020)
- July 15, 2020 Notice – Procedures for Writs and Warrants of Removal that Have Expired During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- July 15, 2020 Notice and Order - COVID-19 - Landlord/Tenant - Amendment of Summons and Complaint Forms (Rules Appendices); Rule Relaxations; Orders to Show Cause
- July 13, 2020 Notice and Order – Sixth Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice
- July 13, 2020 Notice and Order - Mediator Training To Be Conducted Virtually During COVID-19 - Relaxation of Rule 1:40-12(b)
- July 13, 2020 Supplement to Directive #01-15 (“Special Civil Part Officers”) – COVID-19 Protocols for Special Civil Part Officers
- June 26, 2020 Notice and Order – Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Program – Expansion to State Grand Jury
- June 26, 2020 Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Fifth Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice
- June 22, 2020 Addendum to Directive #01-17 – COVID-19 Pandemic - Affirmation and Expansion of the New Jersey Judiciary Language Access Plan for Remote Court Events
- June 16, 2020 Notice and Order – Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Program – Expansion to Grand Jury Selection (in Addition to Sessions)
- June 12, 2020 Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Fourth Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice
- June 10, 2020 Notice -- New Jersey Courts Post-Pandemic Plan - Transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2
- June 10, 2020 Notice and Order – COVID-19 -Requirement that All Persons in Judiciary Facilities for Judiciary Business Wear Masks or Face Coverings and Maintain Social Distancing
- June 09, 2020 Notice and Order – Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Program – Consent Not Required to Proceed
- May 29, 2020 Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Third Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice
- May 22, 2020 Order – In the Matter of the Request to Modify Prison Sentences, Expedite Parole Hearings and Identify Vulnerable Prisoners
- May 18, 2020 Directive #16-20 - Guidance for Megan's Law Proceedings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- May 18, 2020 Notice and Order – Clarification of Four Provisions of the Court’s Second Omnibus Order Regarding Court Operations During the COVID-19 Crisis
- May 18, 2020 Supplement to Grand Jury Charge and Oath of Secrecy for the Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Project (Supplement to Directive #23-06)
- May 14, 2020 Notice and Order – Supreme Court Authorization of Virtual Grand Jury Pilot Program
- May 11, 2020 Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Electronic Filing in eCourts and the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) System – Attorneys Required to File in eCourts Where Available
- May 7, 2020 Notice and Order - Temporarily Authorizing Out-of-State Attorneys During COVID-19 to Provide Pro Bono Legal Services Under Supervision
- May 1, 2020 Directive #13-20 – Sentencing Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- April 28, 2020 Notice -- Public Access to Court Events During COVID-19 -- Directives #11-20 and #12-20
- April 27, 2020 Directive #12-20 – Principles and Protocols for Virtual Court Operations During the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic – (1) Methods of Conducting Remote Court Events; (2) Access to the Public Record; and (3) Posting of Events Guidance
- April 24, 2020 Notice and Order – COVID-19 – Second Omnibus Order on Court Operations and Legal Practice – More Operations To Be Conducted Remotely; Limited Discovery Extensions and Tolling Periods
- April 22, 2020 Notice - Family Division - COVID-19 - Conducting Matrimonial Early Settlement Panels (MESPs) by Telephone or Video - Updated Instructions and Guidance
- April 21, 2020 Order Additional Clarification of Tax Appeal Deadlines for Reassessments and Revaluations Supplemental/Clarifying
- April 20, 2020 Notice and Order – Continuation of Remote Court Proceedings; Public Access; Sentencing
- April 17, 2020 Notice - Civil Arbitration – COVID-19 – Conducting Arbitration by Video or Telephone
- April 15, 2020 Notice – Deadline Extensions and Tolling Periods in the Appellate Division Related to COVID-19
- April 10, 2020 Order – Tolling of Timeframes for Municipal Court Administrator Certification Program During the COVID-19 Crisis (Relaxing Rule 1:41-3
- April 10, 2020 Order – Judicial Financial Reporting – Extension of Due Date to August 1, 2020 Because of COVID-19 Crisis
- April 10, 2020 Order – COVID-19 – Clarifying That Prior Orders Extending Deadlines and Tolling Time Periods Did Not Apply to Pretrial Detention Appeals
- April 9, 2020 Order – COVID-19 – Permitting Electronic Service by Email on the State of New Jersey – Relaxation of Rule 4:4-4(a)(7)
- April 9, 2020 Notice and Order – Relaxation of Rule 4:86 Regarding Guardianship of Incapacitated Adults During the COVID-19 Crisis
- April 9, 2020 Notice – Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) System
- April 7, 2020 - Order – Extension of Tax Appeal Deadlines – COVID-19 – Supplemental/Clarifying Order
- April 6, 2020 - Order – Cancellation and Rescheduling of July Bar Exam; Process for 2020 Graduates to Temporarily Practice Under Supervision
- April 3, 2020 - Notice – Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act of 2015 (SASPA) – Procedure for Obtaining a Temporary Protective Order – Modified to Address COVID-19 – Application Packet
- April 1, 2020 - Directive #10-20 and Supreme Court Order – Process for Search Warrants and Communications Data Warrants in Response to COVID-19
- March 31,2020 - Notice – COVID-19 – Family Division – (1) Conducting Matrimonial Early Settlement Panels (MESPs) by Telephone or Video; (2) Temporary Suspension of Domestic Violence Economic Mediation (DVEM) Program
- March 29,2020 - Notice – COVID-19 Coronavirus – Supreme Court’s March 27, 2020 Omnibus Order Continuing the Suspension of Court Proceedings and Extending Deadlines and Timeframes through April 26, 2020
- March 27, 2020 - Omnibus Order on COVID-19 Issues
- March 25, 2020 - Order – Rule Relaxation Regarding “Courtesy Copies” of Civil Motion Papers During the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis
- March 25, 2020 - Order - Suspending Depositions and Appearances of Medical Professionals Involved in Addressing COVID-19
- March 23, 2020 - Supplemental Order - In the Matter of the Request to Commute or Suspend County Jail Sentences
- March 23, 2020 - Order - In the Matter of the Request to Commute or Suspend County Jail Sentences
- March 20, 2020 -Order to Show Cause in the Request to Commute or Suspend County Jail Sentences
- March 19, 2020 - Order – Extension of Property Tax Appeal Filing Deadlines Because of COVID-19 Coronavirus Concerns
- March 19, 2020 - Order - Measures Relating to Criminal Speedy Trial/Excludable Time to Address COVID-19 Concerns
- March 19, 2020 - Order – Measures Relating to Civil Arbitration and Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel Sessions to Address COVID-19 Concerns
- March 19, 2020 - Notice - Extension of the 2020 Attorney Certification Application Deadline
- March 17, 2020 - Order - Adjourning Civil Commitment Initial Hearings – Adult and Juvenile
- March 17, 2020 - Order – (a) Permitting the Extension of Civil and Family (Dissolution) Discovery Deadlines and (b) Tolling Filing Deadlines through March 27 for All Matters
- March 17, 2020 - Order – Relaxation of Rules on Municipal Court Plea by Mail to Temporarily Remove the Requirement of Showing an Undue Hardship
- March 17, 2020 - Order – No New Grand Jury Selections or Sessions through March 27
- March 15, 2020 - Notice – New Jersey Court Operations – COVID-19 Coronavirus – Rescheduling of In-Court Proceedings scheduled for the Week Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020; Continuation of All Critical Functions
- March 14, 2020 - Notice – Suspension of Landlord/Tenant Sessions
- March 12, 2020 - Notice – COVID-19 Coronavirus – Status of Court Operations – Immediate and Upcoming Plans
- March 10, 2020 - Order - Continuing Legal Education - Temporary Elimination of Live Classroom Instruction Requirement Because of COVID-19 Coronavirus Concerns
- March 10, 2020 - Order – Judiciary Travel Regulations – Refinements to Address COVID-19 Coronavirus
- March 9, 2020 - Notice from Chief Justice – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Continuation of Normal Court Operations; Guidance to Attorneys and Litigants; Reminder Not to Share Confidential Health Information in Pleadings
Department of Health Information
For more information on preparing for coronavirus, see the state Department of Health’s advisory or contact the 24-hour public hotline at 1-800-222-1222.