The Appellate Division has issued updated guidelines for the treatment of emergent applications. Those guidelines, available here, update its August 26, 2015 guidelines, which were discussed here.
The updates are essentially in two areas, since most of the guidelines have remained the same. First, the updated version provides a new telephone number for those seeking emergent relief to call, as well as the normal business hours during which that telephone number is available. Second, it includes procedures for seeking emergent relief after normal business hours, on weekends, or on holidays.
As to that second aspect, the applicant must explain “what makes it necessary for the court to consider the emergent application during off-hours.” An applicant who can meet that standard will be able to contact a State Police Operational Bureau duty trooper, who will then contact the emergent judge on duty.
These guidelines are now the operative ones. But in most respects, and for most circumstances, the prior guidelines have not been altered.