Coronavirus New Jersey: State Extends Ban On Trials, Allows Some Proceedings

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey's municipal courts can begin holding proceedings as soon as Monday under an order issued Friday by the state Supreme Court. The order allows municipal courts to resume work by phone or video Monday if all parties agree.

All municipal proceedings will resume on May 11 by phone or video where possible. No in-person proceedings are planned at this time, according to the state judiciary.

Friday's order also extended a suspension of grand juries until May 31, and continued the suspension of criminal and civil trials indefinitely.

The state suspended in-person court proceedings and grand jury activities last month in response to the new coronavirus outbreak. Since then, state courts have conducted more than 12,000 events remotely, according to the state judiciary.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press.