Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court System

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey’s courts are not immune to the new cornonavirus.

On Thursday, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced that the New Jersey court system will be suspending all new jury trials “until further notice” amid concerns over the COVID-19 virus.

Jury trials already in progress will continue. Grand juries will continue pending further communication with county prosecutors and the attorney general, Rabner said.

Court vicinages will take immediate steps to stagger schedules for landlord/tenant, small claims, and other non-jury court proceedings to avoid bringing together large numbers of people in confined areas, officials said.

The judiciary also announced it will take the following steps:

• It is preparing to conduct motions, non-jury trials and some hearings remotely, with the use of video and telephonic equipment.
• All out-of-state work travel by judiciary staff has been suspended.
• Discretionary training that does not impact the functions of staff has been suspended.
• Nonessential events, such as student tours, are canceled.
• Conferences and committee meetings are being held via video.

Rabner's statement didn't mention what the decision will mean for people currently serving on jury duty. But in an FAQ sheet released earlier this week, court administrators said that jurors should report to jury duty unless they're sick.

"Jurors who are ill should contact their local jury office to reschedule their service," court administrators wrote.

People subject to court supervision — whether it be probation, pretrial monitoring, drug court or any other supervision — should continue to comply with reporting requirements, officials said.

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CHIEF JUSTICE: 'AN EXTRAORDINARY STEP'

“While jury trials are a critical component of our justice system, this extraordinary step is necessary to protect the health and safety of the community,” the chief justice said. “At the same time, we will make every effort to keep our court system running in the face of this health crisis.”

Gov. Phil Murphy issued a statement in support of the judiciary’s action.

“After consultation with the commissioner of health, today I recommended the cancellation of all public gatherings of more than 250 individuals to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” Murphy said. “We are in full support of the judiciary’s response to this public health emergency.”

• See related article: Gov. Murphy Says NJ Should Cancel Large Gatherings Due To Coronavirus

“It is imperative that we take action to avoid large public gatherings at our court facilities,” said Judge Glenn Grant, acting administrative director of the courts.

“At the same time, we will leverage our technological capabilities so that other court proceedings can continue with minimal disruption to our justice system,” Grant said.

Twenty-nine people have been diagnosed with presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey as of Thursday afternoon, with one person dying from the disease. Murphy has declared a state of emergency, and schools across the state have begun to cancel classes. READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

In general — depending on where they live — New Jersey residents still face a “low risk” of contracting COVID-19, State Epidemiologist Christina Tan said during a Wednesday press conference.

There have been more than 1,300 confirmed U.S. cases of the new coronavirus as of Thursday morning according to Johns Hopkins University, which said the disease also has killed 38 people nationwide.

• See related article: $8B To Fight Coronavirus; NJ Lawmakers Back Huge Spending Bill

WHAT IS COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now being transmitted from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home if you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are caring for someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings, such at home or in a health care facility.

Residents who have questions about the virus can contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 800-222-1222. The hotline is home of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, and is staffed 24 hours a day by state health workers.

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