A New Jersey judge closed the door on civil litigants who sought to change venues to escape a trial moratorium stemming from a shortage of judges.

Assignment Judge Kevin Shanahan of Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties denied six motions on Tuesday to change venue to another county from litigants who sought to escape the consequences of a trial moratorium in Vicinage 13.

Judge Kevin M. Shanahan, Assignment Judge for Vicinage 13 (Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties). Courtesy photo

Shanahan indicated that the order issued by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner in February, which put civil and matrimonial trials on hold in six counties due to a shortage of judges, would permit venue changes under limited circumstances.