Civil jury trials will return in a virtual format on a limited and temporary basis, under a Supreme Court order issued Jan. 7.

The governing bodies of both Avalon and Stone Harbor have entered into a new shared services agreement that will result in a shared court to be located at Avalon Borough Hall, starting Jan. 1, 2021.

A Supreme Court order issued Oct. 8 provides a plan for the statewide return of grand juries, ending a delay that has affected thousands of defendants held in custody since the start of the COVID-19 health crisis.  

Advancing criminal justice reform, the full Assembly voted 70-3-1 clearing legislation (A-4373) July 30 that would give courts the discretion to consider the age of a defendant as a mitigating factor in sentencing for crimes committed before the age of 26.

Atlantic and Cape May counties will hold vote-by-mail elections July 7. The courts will have judges available to hear any voting and election issues throughout the day of the election, either virtually or in-person.

A Supreme Court order has set the stage for a partial resumption of certain suspended court operations. The omnibus order allows civil arbitration and matrimonial early settlement panels to resume. Civil commitment hearings, already underway when the order was issued, will continue.

State court proceedings are cancelled Oct. 28 for judges to attend a mandatory full-day educational conference focusing on the areas of gender violence and bias.