Municipal court hearings, jury trials suspended in New Jersey

(Camden, NJ) – Yesterday, the Camden County Department of Health announced the second presumptive positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Camden County. On Saturday, New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice, Stuart Rabner, announced that all municipal courts in the state will begin a two-week suspension starting Monday.

Anyone scheduled to appear in municipal court between Monday, March 16, and Friday, March 27, will receive notice of a new court date.

“Although the risk posed by coronavirus in New Jersey is still considered low for the general public, suspending these and other activities helps to reduce the likelihood of exposure for residents who would otherwise be required to spend several hours in crowded facilities,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “Our administration is working tirelessly to ensure that government services remain available to Camden County residents while we combat the spread of coronavirus. We share the state’s goal to minimize the risk posed to our residents while causing the smallest possible disruption to daily life.”

On March 12, Rabner suspended all reporting for petit jury service, announcing that no new civil or criminal jury trials would be conducted until further notice. Ongoing jury trials and grand juries are to continue at this time. Jurors who are serving on ongoing trials are asked not to report if they are sick or at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

New protocols have been implemented throughout Camden County to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the county’s workforce and residents. Enhanced cleaning and screening protocols have been implemented in county facilities, monitoring for potential exposures and keeping high-contact surfaces such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, and handrails disinfected. All work-related travel has been cancelled.

The Camden County Correctional Facility has cancelled all in-person visits and has instituted a pandemic response policy. Additionally, all inmates will have their temperatures taken upon booking and release. Both the staff and inmate populations have been briefed on proper practices to reduce their risk of exposure and protect themselves from contracting coronavirus.

School districts throughout the state have begun announcing closures for training, cleaning, and to mitigate the risk of exposure inside their facilities. In Camden County, Pennsauken and Camden City School Districts have announced closures beginning March 16, until March 27, and April 1, respectively.

A complete list of all school closures in the state is being maintained on the New Jersey Department of Education website.

Information regarding coronavirus, government preparations, event cancellations, and all other updates from Camden County is being continually updated on camdencounty.com. Residents should frequently check the county webpage and social media for up-to-date information.

###