SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY ISSUES ITS TENTH COVID-19 OMNIBUS ORDER

February 17, 2021

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark.

The Supreme Court of New Jersey has issued its tenth Omnibus Order in light of COVID-19.  The Order essentially covers excludable time for incarcerated defendants as well as continue provisions from previous Orders.

The Tenth Omnibus Order provides for the following excludable time:

1. For those eligible defendants who have not yet been indicted and were committed to the county jail before March 16, 2020, the provisions of the Court’s prior orders regarding preindictment excludable time are extended until March 31, 2021;
2. For those eligible defendants who have not yet been indicted and were committed to the county jail on or after March 16, 2020 through May 31, 2020, the provisions of the Court’s prior orders regarding preindictment excludable time are 2 unchanged. Preindictment excludable time will continue through March 31, 2021;
3. For those eligible defendants who have not yet been indicted and were committed to the county jail on or after June 1, 2020 through October 11, 2020, the provisions of the Court’s prior orders regarding excludable are unchanged. Preindictment excludable time will continue through April 28, 2021; and
4. For those eligible defendants who have not yet been indicted and are committed to the county jail on or after October 12, 2020, the provisions of the Court’s prior orders regarding excludable time are unchanged. Preindictment excludable time will continue through May 14, 2021.

Other matters covered by the Tenth Omnibus Order include:

1. Virtual civil jury trials will continue in accordance with the Court’s January 7, 2021 and February 1, 2021 Orders.
2. Virtual grand jury trial will continue.
3. In person criminal juries will continue to be put on hold.
4. Requests for extensions of time in individual cases, based on specific circumstances, may continue to be submitted by letter in lieu of a formal motion; and
5. the court in any individual matter consistent with Rule 1: 1-2( a) may suspend proceedings, extend discovery or other deadlines, or otherwise accommodate the legitimate needs of parties, attorneys, and others in the interests of justice.