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New Jersey Rules of Court: Criminal Practice – 2026

Part 3 of the New Jersey Rules of Court governing criminal practice in the Superior Court, including indictments, pretrial procedure, discovery, pleas, trial, sentencing, and post-conviction relief.

Browse all 163 rules of the 2026 edition organized by section below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Sections

Rule 3:1 — General Provisions Rule 3:2 — Contents of Complaints, Arrest Warrant and Summons Rule 3:3 — Summons or Warrant Upon Complaint Rule 3:4 — Proceedings Before The Committing Judge; Pretrial Release Rule 3:4A — Pretrial Detention Rule 3:5 — Search Warrants Rule 3:5A — Investigative Detention Rule 3:6 — The Grand Jury Rule 3:7 — Indictment and Accusation Rule 3:8 — Appearance of Counsel Rule 3:9 — Pretrial Procedure Rule 3:10 — Pleading and Motions Before Trial; Defenses and Objections Rule 3:11 — Identifications –Out-of-Court; In-Court Rule 3:12 — Defendant's Obligation to Provide Notice Rule 3:13 — Depositions; Discovery Rule 3:14 — Place of Trial; Foreign Juries Rule 3:15 — Joinder And Severance Rule 3:16 — Presence Of The Defendant Rule 3:17 — Electronic Recordation Rule 3:18 — Motion For Judgment Of Acquittal Rule 3:19 — Verdict Rule 3:20 — New Trial Rule 3:21 — Sentence And Judgment; Withdrawal of Plea; Presentence Investigation; Probation Rule 3:22 — Post Conviction Relief Rule 3:23 — Appeals From Judgments of Conviction In Courts of Limited Criminal Jurisdiction Rule 3:24 — Appeals From Orders In Courts Of Limited Criminal Jurisdiction Rule 3:25 — Dismissal Rule 3:25A — Consolidated Dispositions Rule 3:26 — Bail Rule 3:27 — [Reserved] Rule 3:28 — Pretrial Intervention Programs Rule 3:29 — Statement Of Reasons For Disposition Of Motion Or Application Rule 3:30 — Fees for Expungement of Records
Rule 3:1 — General Provisions Rules 3:1-1–3:1-6 Rule 3:2 — Contents of Complaints, Arrest Warrant and Summons Rules 3:2-1–3:2-3 Rule 3:3 — Summons or Warrant Upon Complaint Rules 3:3-1–3:3-4 Rule 3:4 — Proceedings Before The Committing Judge; Pretrial Release Rules 3:4-1–3:4-7 Rule 3:4A — Pretrial Detention Rule 3:4A Rule 3:5 — Search Warrants Rules 3:5-1–3:5-8 Rule 3:5A — Investigative Detention Rules 3:5A-1–3:5A-9 Rule 3:6 — The Grand Jury Rules 3:6-1–3:6-11 Rule 3:7 — Indictment and Accusation Rules 3:7-1–3:7-10 Rule 3:8 — Appearance of Counsel Rules 3:8-1–3:8-3 Rule 3:9 — Pretrial Procedure Rules 3:9-1–3:9-3 Rule 3:10 — Pleading and Motions Before Trial; Defenses and Objections Rules 3:10-1–3:10-9 Rule 3:11 — Identifications –Out-of-Court; In-Court Rules 3:11-1–3:11-2 Rule 3:12 — Defendant's Obligation to Provide Notice Rules 3:12-1–3:12-2 Rule 3:13 — Depositions; Discovery Rules 3:13-1–3:13-5 Rule 3:14 — Place of Trial; Foreign Juries Rules 3:14-1–3:14-4 Rule 3:15 — Joinder And Severance Rules 3:15-1–3:15-3 Rule 3:16 — Presence Of The Defendant Rule 3:16 Rule 3:17 — Electronic Recordation Rule 3:17 Rule 3:18 — Motion For Judgment Of Acquittal Rules 3:18-1–3:18-2 Rule 3:19 — Verdict Rules 3:19-1–3:19-2 Rule 3:20 — New Trial Rules 3:20-1–3:20-2 Rule 3:21 — Sentence And Judgment; Withdrawal of Plea; Presentence Investigation; Probation Rules 3:21-1–3:21-11 Rule 3:22 — Post Conviction Relief Rules 3:22-1–3:22-13 Rule 3:23 — Appeals From Judgments of Conviction In Courts of Limited Criminal Jurisdiction Rules 3:23-1–3:23-9 Rule 3:24 — Appeals From Orders In Courts Of Limited Criminal Jurisdiction Rule 3:24 Rule 3:25 — Dismissal Rules 3:25-1–3:25-4 Rule 3:25A — Consolidated Dispositions Rules 3:25A-1–3:25A-2 Rule 3:26 — Bail Rules 3:26-1–3:26-9 Rule 3:27 — [Reserved] Rule 3:27 Rule 3:28 — Pretrial Intervention Programs Rules 3:28-1–3:28-10 Rule 3:29 — Statement Of Reasons For Disposition Of Motion Or Application Rule 3:29 Rule 3:30 — Fees for Expungement of Records Rules 3:30-1–3:30-2