This Monday, November 16, it was announced that the New Jersey Supreme Court would suspend all in-person civil and criminal jury trials, as well as all in-person grand jury proceedings due to the current spike in COVID-19 cases. This news does not come as a shock, however, it does mark a significant point in time, as the New Jersey legal system continues to grapple with the ongoing pandemic that was, at one time, appearing to come to a close.
In the court order issued by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, he said, “The increasing rates of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths make it impracticable and unsafe for certain in-person court events to continue at the level reached during the past few months. Although it is not necessary at this time to prohibit all on-site presence and in-person events at court locations, in-person jury trials and in-person grand jury sessions will now be suspended based on current COVID-19 trends and health and safety concerns.”
The being said, up until this point, most court proceedings in New Jersey have been conducted virtually in response to New Jersey’s rapid shift to virtual proceedings, and the process has largely been unaffected by the switch as well. The order issued by the New Jersey Supreme Court continued, “Guided by experts in public health, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Department of Health, the Court throughout the COVID-19 crisis has continued to prioritize the health and safety of court users while supporting court operations to the greatest extent practicable.”
That being said, you should understand that if you are someone who is currently undergoing a criminal or civil trial or will be in the future, our firm is here to help. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact our experienced Red Bank criminal defense attorney today. Our firm is here to help.
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Our firm proudly represents clients in New Jersey who are faced with matters of family law, criminal defense, business law, real estate law, or estate planning. If you require strong and dedicated representation for any of your legal matters, please do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of George J. Mardinly to schedule a consultation.