NJ-D — Meet and Confer
D.N.J. — NJ-D requires meet-and-confer for discovery motions, with discovery applications presentable by telephone or letter to the judge.
NJ-D requires meet-and-confer for discovery motions, with discovery applications presentable by telephone or letter to the judge. NJ-D is a discovery-only meet-and-confer scope district with live conferral.
Mechanics
- Discovery applications (Civ. R. 37.1): By telephone conference call or letter to the judge before formal motion practice. The presentation precedes any formal motion.
- Sanctions motions (Civ. R. 37.2): Governed by FRCP 37.
- Non-discovery motions: No district pre-filing conferral requirement.
What this rule is trying to accomplish
The Civ. R. 37.1 telephone-or-letter mechanism is a procedural alternative to motion practice, not a precursor. The rule's rationale is that most discovery disputes can be resolved by short direct contact with the judge rather than formal briefing.
For the trap on telephone or letter presentation, see Watchpoints #6.