New Jersey Courts

12/28/2022

The Middlesex Vicinage recently held a holiday toy drive, collecting more than 100 gifts for the area’s most needy.

Most of the gifts, donated by vicinage staff and judges, went to the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency; Dina’s Dwellings, which provides housing and support services to survivors of domestic violence and their families; the Mobile Family Success Center, which provides family services to county residents; and the Ozanam Family Shelter, which provides shelter and services for women and families.

Then the vicinage learned of a recovery court participant with seven children who had little food and no gifts for her children. Four days before Christmas, vicinage staff surprised her with more than 20 gifts for her children and a $375 ShopRite gift card.

12/25/2022

12/23/2022

Due to inclement weather, please advise the following closings and additional information for today:

The Administrative Office of the Courts is closed. All court operations will proceed remotely. The Superior Court Clerk's Office will be closed to the public. Please file electronically via eCourts or JEDS https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/jeds. Our Judiciary Information and Support line will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, please call 609-421-6100.
Tax Court of New Jersey - All Trenton and Newark Tax Court operations and proceedings will be held remotely. Contact individual judges' chambers with questions about your case.

The Passaic County Courthouse buildings are closed. Virtual court events will proceed as scheduled.

The Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren County Courthouses are closed. Court events and court operations will proceed remotely.

All court facilities in the Bergen Vicinage, including the Courthouse and Probation Services, will close at 11:00 am. Remote court events and court operations will proceed as scheduled.

All court facilities in the Burlington Vicinage will be closed to the public at 12:00 pm. Afternoon court events and court operations will proceed remotely.

All court operations and events in the Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage will proceed remotely after 12:00 pm.

The Morris and Sussex County Courthouses will be closed to the public starting at 12:00pm. Afternoon court events and court operations will proceed remotely.

All Essex County Courthouse facilities will close to the public at 12:30pm. All afternoon court events will be held in a virtual format.

The Hudson County Administration Building and Brennan Courthouse will close for any live proceedings at 12:30 pm. Any previously-scheduled virtual events will proceed as planned. Any scheduled afternoon matters will proceed virtually.

The courthouses and court offices of Mercer County Superior Court will be closed to the public today starting at 12:30pm. Afternoon court events and court operations will proceed remotely.

All court facilities in the Ocean Vicinage will be closed to the public beginning at 12:30pm. Afternoon court events and court operations will proceed remotely beginning at 1:30 pm.

All court facilities in the Monmouth Vicinage will be closed to the public beginning at 12:30 pm. Afternoon court events and court operations will proceed remotely beginning at 1:30 pm.

All Union County Courthouse Facilities will close to the public at 12:30 pm. All proceedings in the afternoon on will be held in a virtual format.

The Atlantic and Cape May County Courthouses will close at 1:30 pm. Court events and court operations will proceed remotely.

All court facilities in the Camden Vicinage will be closed to the public beginning at 1:30 pm. Afternoon court events and court operations will proceed remotely.

The Middlesex County Courthouse, Family Courthouse and all other affiliated courthouse offices will close to the public at 2:00pm. All proceedings in the afternoon will be conducted in a virtual format.

For temporary restraining orders, please go to your local police station.

12/21/2022

To register for this upcoming webinar, visit: https://njcourts.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_wzXcaZf8TNOLjvLs5F104A

12/20/2022

To register for this upcoming webinar, visit: https://njcourts.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_q4YggDM3QoSH5Cwzd9k2VA

12/19/2022

The Ombudsman’s Office of the Union Vicinage ran a winter coat drive in November and December. Through their collections, the vicinage is providing 230 coats for men, women, and children to the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless and to the Juvenile Probation Boutique in Elizabeth.

12/16/2022

Staff from the Union Vicinage EEO/AA Advisory Committee hosted Holiday Week 2022 this past week. Activities included a charity day coat drive, a festive sweater contest, a sweets bake off, live trivia games, holiday grams, a division holiday decorating contest, and more. Prizes were given to the winners of the contests.

12/16/2022

Staff from the Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage along with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office hosted fourth-grade students from the Buckshutem Road School in Bridgeton as part of the vicinage’s Classroom-to-Courtroom Program on Tuesday. The event, held entirely in Spanish, used simultaneous interpretation services for the 15 Spanish-speaking students in the school’s immersion classroom. Lead Interpreter MariPaz Russell and bilingual Sherriff’s Officer Erica Quinones led the event. The students learned about New Jersey courts and watched a presentation by Officer Quinones and K-9 Officer Atlas. Plus, the students were able to participate in a mock trial. Tax Court Judge Mark Cimino participated in a Q&A with the students, interpreted by MariPaz. Field trips and mini mock trials are organized and run by the vicinage's Ombudsman's Office.

12/16/2022

The Morris/Sussex Vicinage’s probation services held a gingerbread house decorating contest for families of youth under supervision in Morris and Sussex counties. Wednesday’s event was an opportunity to encourage greater engagement between the members of the 10 participating families.

12/15/2022

New attorneys were sworn in last Friday during a ceremony at the Historic Olde Courthouse in Mount Holly. Burlington Vicinage Assignment Judge Jeanne T. Covert presided over the event and Superior Court Judges Mark P. Tarantino, Richard L. Hertzberg and James J. Ferrelli administered the oath as family members, vicinage staff, and representatives of the Burlington County Bar Association watched.

12/14/2022

Superior Court Judge Ralph A. Paolone was sworn in on Monday at the Atlantic County Civil Courts Building in Atlantic City. Assignment Judge Michael J. Blee administered the oath. Family of Judge Paolone and staff from the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage were in attendance for the ceremony.

12/13/2022

Twenty-five students from the Ocean County College Interpreter Training Program took a tour of the Ocean County Courthouse in Toms River yesterday. The students received career opportunity information and conducted a mock trial. The students learned about the different divisions and offices at the courthouse and got a chance to practice American Sign Language, as several of them were asked to interpret tour guide commentaries. During the mock trial, students also portrayed various participants in a court proceeding while others signed along.

12/13/2022

Today’s Supreme Court opinion examines whether New Jersey’s Worker’s Compensation Act requires an insurance broker to advise new members of an LLC of the need to opt in for coverage.
https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-opinions/2022/a_39_21.pdf

12/12/2022

12/12/2022

The Camden Vicinage held a Professionalism course on December 1 at the Hall of Justice in Camden. The event included a discussion on ethical and professional conduct regarding depositions, discovery, family law litigation, and criminal litigation. Civil Part Presiding Judge Steven J. Polansky and Superior Court Judges Mark J. Chase and Michael E. Joyce spoke at the two-hour event.

12/09/2022

Hudson Vicinage to Host 30th Recovery Court Graduation
https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/press-release/2022/12/pr12.09.22a.pdf

12/09/2022

Staff from the Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage’s Classroom to Courtroom Program hosted Buckshutem Road Elementary School fourth graders at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Bridgeton yesterday. The students were treated to a tour of the courthouse where they learned about the functions of the courts and participated in a mini mock trial with Ombudsman Office staff. The students ended their morning with a Q &A session with Tax Court Judge Mark Cimino. To learn more about the vicinage’s Classroom to Courtroom Program, contact the Ombudsman’s Office at [email protected]

12/08/2022

Essex Vicinage to Hold Recovery Court Graduationhttps://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/press-release/2022/12/pr12.08.22.pdf

12/07/2022

The New Jersey Judiciary today released the latest annual Criminal Justice Reform report, which examined the justice system’s response during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/press-release/2022/12/pr120722a_1.pdf

12/06/2022

To register for this upcoming webinar, visit: https://njcourts.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_VZtzbB7KRMGXnqlclN6b0w

12/02/2022

The Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Announced the third-quarter deadlines for claims. The fund reimburses clients who have suffered a loss due to the dishonest conduct of a member of the New Jersey Bar. To learn how to file a claim, go tohttps://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/press-release/2038/01/pr120222a_2.pdf

12/01/2022

To learn more about this upcoming career and resource fair, please see the flyer below:

12/01/2022

The latest installment of the “Closer Look” video series. This series highlights vicinage and central office staff members for demonstrating excellence in providing critical services to the public.

12/01/2022

To register for this upcoming webinar, visit: https://njcourts.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_Bi3Fg_pTThyZw0KI7Ok1Wg

12/01/2022

11/30/2022

Due to a facilities issue, the Warren County Courthouse will be closed today. Court matters and court operations will proceed remotely. Grand jury will continue in person at the Courthouse Annex as previously scheduled.

Go to http://njcourts.gov for more info.

11/29/2022

Participants and team members of the Recovery Court program in Atlantic County assembled 63 care packages for the Atlantic City chapter of Angels in Motion last Tuesday.

Angels in Motion is an addiction resources center whose trained volunteers go into homeless communities in Atlantic City to distribute “blessing” bags. The bags assembled by the Recovery Court group included personal care items, snacks, and a personalized note of hope created by the participants.

11/28/2022

Today’s Supreme Court opinion examines whether a particular form of arbitration is available to police officers at public colleges and universities when appealing a suspension or termination.
https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-opinions/2022/a_33_21_0.pdf

11/24/2022

11/22/2022

Be sure to attend this informational seminar:

11/22/2022

Services at the Morris County Administration & Records Building will not be interrupted.

11/22/2022

Today’s Supreme Court opinion examines whether a hearing to waive a juvenile matter to the Law Division should have been held before a suppression motion.
https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-opinions/2022/a_41_42_21.pdf

11/21/2022

Camden Vicinage Assignment Judge Deborah Silverman Katz administered the oath to new attorneys at a swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday in Camden.

11/21/2022

With the Thanksgiving season quickly approaching, staff and friends from the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage recently collected 17 boxes of non-perishable food items for those in need. Share some ways you're giving this season!

11/21/2022

Today’s Supreme Court opinion examines whether defense counsel is entitled to the home address of a sexual assault victim as part of discovery in a criminal prosecution.
https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-opinions/2022/a_1_21.pdf

11/18/2022

In anticipation of tomorrow, several vicinages held ceremonies today to celebrate finalizing adoptions of children with their new families.

Those interested in becoming a licensed foster/adoptive parents should call 1-877-NJFOSTER.

11/17/2022

Superior Court Judges Peter Tober and Robert Ballard met with Milltown Primary School students on Nov. 7 as part of the Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Vicinage’s On Judge One School program, which educates students about New Jersey’s judicial system.

11/17/2022

Tomorrow, many vicinages are recognizing National Adoption Day with ceremonies that include finalizing adoptions. Here’s a peek at one family that will be celebrating.

11/17/2022

The Union Vicinage held a Professionalism Day seminar yesterday on the topic “Where do ethics come from.”

Sponsored by the Union County Bar Association, the event featured Superior Court Judges Mark Ciarrocca and Dara Govan, Municipal Court Judge Kelly Waters, and attorney Robert Varady.

11/17/2022

Camden Vicinage to Celebrate National Adoption Day
https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/press-release/2022/11/pr111522c_0.pdf