The following is adapted from a Nixon Peabody litigation alert.

As regions of New York State move toward reopening, so does the state’s court system. But, it appears for now that the extent and timing of the reopening will differ around the State. On March 22, 2020, the chief administrative judge of the courts of the state entered an administrative order directing that no paper or electronic filings would be accepted in any matter outside the scope of certain limited “essential matters.” Since that time, the courts have gradually expanded virtual operations, allowing filings in pending matters. Now, significantly, for the first time since March 22, 2020, New York state courts in some locations will begin accepting the filing of new lawsuits, regardless of whether they meet the definition of “essential matters.”