Chief Justice Rabner Announces Two-Week Suspension of Municipal Court Sessions

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark

Municipal court sessions will be suspended for two weeks, beginning Monday, to mitigate public exposure to COVID-19 coronavirus, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced today.

For the two-week period from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 27, individuals scheduled to appear before a Municipal Court to contest a traffic or parking ticket, or minor local ordinance violation, should instead await notice of a new court date.

“As part of our continuing response to the spread of COVID-19, we are suspending municipal court sessions for a two-week period,” Chief Justice Rabner said. “Where it is possible to resolve court matters without compromising the health and safety of the public and court staff, we will continue to do so.”

Municipal courts will continue to handle certain matters, such as applications for temporary restraining orders, hearings where a defendant has been detained, and matters that implicate public safety. Attorneys and parties required to appear between March 16 and March 27 will be specifically notified of that requirement.

Filings and payments will continue to be accepted, except where the municipality had closed the Municipal Court building. Defendants also may continue to make payments through the Municipal Court online payment system at NJMCDirect.com.

Updated information about municipal court closures is available at njcourts.gov.