Notice to the Bar and Public Concerning Timely Registration for Court-Solutions and Timely Adjournment Requests

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

NOTICE TO THE BAR AND PUBLIC
CONCERNING TIMELY REGISTRATION FOR COURT-SOLUTIONS
AND TIMELY ADJOURNMENT REQUESTS

Many Judges in the District of New Jersey utilize the service Court-Solutions to facilitate telephonic appearances.  Litigants are required to arrange appearances through Court-Solutions no later than 3:00pm the court day prior to the hearing.  This policy is prominently publicized on each judge’s page on the court’s website (see the Communications tab) and allows court staff sufficient time to review and address each telephonic appearance request.  However, litigants have been registering late with increasing frequency—often minutes before scheduled hearings.  Late registration prompts calls to the Clerk’s Office or Chambers seeking immediate appearance approval and is generally disruptive.  Litigants are reminded that they are obligated to register IN ADVANCE of their scheduled hearings, no later than 3:00pm the court day prior to the hearing.  Repeated failure to adhere to this rule may result in revocation of telephonic privileges, and court-ordered, mandatory in-person appearances.

Additionally, pursuant to D.N.J. LBR 5071-1, an adjournment request must be made not later than 3 days before the hearing date.  This Local Rule, which is also published on each judge’s page on the court’s website (see the Communications tab), affords staff sufficient time to review and address the request, and to provide adequate notice of an adjournment to all interested parties.  Nevertheless, litigants have been submitting late adjournment requests with increasing frequency—often the day of, or morning of, a scheduled hearing.  This causes confusion and wastes time and resources.  Even so, the Court and the Chapter 13 Trustees’ Offices have been flexible and accommodating, and will continue to be so where exceptional circumstances are present.  However, litigants are reminded that they are required to adhere to the Local Rules.  By way of this Notice, litigants are further advised that failure to submit an appropriate adjournment request not later than 3 days before the scheduled hearing date may result in denial of the adjournment and mandatory appearances, the format for which (in-person, telephonic, or virtual) is left to the discretion of the reviewing judge.
 

The court’s website can be found at www.njb.uscourts.gov

Dated: November 14, 2024                                                                           Jeanne A. Naughton, Clerk