As the corona virus has spread rapidly through the state of New Jersey, the courts have continued to amend the suspension of court proceedings. Click here to view the latest directive from the New Jersey Supreme Court which was posted on March 29, 2020.
This directive includes the following information relative to criminal & municipal cases:
CRIMINAL
Based on the continued suspension of jury trials and grand jury sessions, the provisions of the March 19, 2020 Order regarding excludable time are extended as follows:
In the computation of the time limits for the commencement of a prosecution for an indictable offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:1-6(b), the additional period starting March 30 through April 26, 2020, shall be tolled;
In the calculation of the time period for the return of an indictment for an eligible defendant detained in the county jail, the additional period from March 30 through April 26, 2020, shall be excluded due to exceptional circumstances,
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:162-22(b)(l)(f), and on account of good cause for the delay, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:162- 22(b)(l)(l), namely, grand jury unavailability, which period shall be attributable to the court;
In the calculation of the time period for the commencement of trial for an eligible defendant detained in the county jail, the additional period from March 30 through April 26, 2020, shall be excluded due to exceptional circumstances, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:162-22(b)(l)(f), and on account ofgood cause for the delay, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:162-22(b)(l)(l), namely, the statewide postponement of jury trials, which period shall be attributable to the court;
Those excludable time provisions are not intended to prevent the parties from making every effort to continue to resolve cases prior to indictment and trial, and courts will conduct proceedings by video or phone, as appropriate.
MUNICIPAL
Municipal Court sessions are suspended through April 26, 2020 during which period Municipal Court sessions will continue as described in the March 14, 2020 notice.
