On 14 March 2020, New Jersey Chief Justice Stuart Rabner issued a suspension of all landlord-tenant court hearings for two weeks as part of the Judiciary’s efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. And in Newark, Mayor Baraka has imposed a moratorium on some rent evictions following two positive cases of coronavirus diagnosed in the city.
The state suspension will be in effect from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27, 2020. Persons scheduled to appear for a landlord/tenant matter during this two-week period should not appear and will receive rescheduled court date notices. Suspension of evictions (lockouts) of residential tenants is also being planned.
During this two-week period, court offices will remain open and payments will continue to be accepted. Attorneys and litigants should contact the Vicinage Civil Division Manager’s Office with questions about individual cases. All court users also should continue to check the Judiciary’s public website (njcourts.gov) for current information.
Newark has not imposed a curfew like Hoboken and Jersey City, but city officials urge residents to stay away from crowds, eateries, bars and clubs.