The Supreme Court may designate a case or category of cases as Multicounty Litigation to receive centralized management in accordance with criteria and procedures promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts upon approval by the Court. Promulgation of the criteria and procedures will include posting in the Multicounty Litigation Information Center on the Judiciary’s Internet website (njcourts.com).
Rule 4:38A.Centralized Management of Multicounty Litigation
Last amended September 4, 2012 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:38A lets the Supreme Court designate a case or category of cases as Multicounty Litigation for centralized management under criteria and procedures the Administrative Director of the Courts promulgates with the Court's approval.
Full Text of Rule 4:38A
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.
Adopted October 23, 2003 to be effective immediately; caption and text; amended July 19, 2012 to be effective September 4, 2012.
Plain-English Summary
Some cases are too numerous or too interconnected to manage county by county. Rule 4:38A gives the Supreme Court the power to designate a case, or a whole category of cases, as Multicounty Litigation, pulling it into centralized management.
The criteria and procedures for that centralized track come from the Administrative Director of the Courts, once the Supreme Court approves them, and are posted through the Judiciary's Multicounty Litigation Information Center online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Multicounty Litigation in New Jersey?
A case or category of cases the Supreme Court designates for centralized management under criteria the Administrative Director of the Courts promulgates with the Court's approval, rather than leaving each case to proceed separately county by county.
Who decides which cases qualify as Multicounty Litigation?
The Supreme Court designates the case or category of cases, and the Administrative Director of the Courts promulgates the criteria and procedures for managing it, subject to the Court's approval.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:38A). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (N.J. Const. art. VI, § 2, ¶ 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 7, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: MCLmass tort litigationmulticounty litigation designationcentralized management