New Jersey Addresses Discovery of ESI in Amendments to Rules Governing Criminal Practice and Rules Governing Practice in the Municipal Courts
On December 4, 2012, the New Jersey Supreme Court adopted amendments to the New Jersey Rules Governing Criminal Practice and to the Rules Governing Practice in the Municipal Courts. The amendments were initially recommended by the Supreme Court Special Committee on Discovery in Criminal and Quasi-Criminal Matters. The amendments are effective on January 1, 2013.
Among other things, the amendments to the Rules of Criminal Practice address a newly imposed obligation to meet and confer on the issue of electronic discovery (Rule 3:9-1(b)); the discoverability of electronically stored information generally (e.g., by specifically identifying such information as discoverable under the rules), including the format of production (Rule 3:13-3); and discovery fees (Rule 3:13-5). Similarly, the amendments to the Rules of Practice in the Municipal Courts address (among other things) the discoverability of electronically stored information generally, including the format of production and discovery fees (Rule 7:7-7).
For a copy of the Notice to the Bar, including the Court’s Order, click here.
