Court Opinion

ID: 9956926
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-03 14:07:51.156776+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:17:58.872245
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

                                NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                        SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                        APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                        DOCKET NO. A-0823-22

C.C.,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

M.Z.,

     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________

                   Submitted February 13, 2024 – Decided April 3, 2024

                   Before Judges Mayer and Enright.

                   On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
                   Chancery Division, Family Part, Essex County, Docket
                   No. FV-07-1983-22.

                   Cobos Law Firm, attorneys for appellant (Franz Cobos,
                   on the brief).

                   Ambrosio & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC,
                   attorneys for respondent (Francois D. Prophete and
                   Elisa C. Ambrosio-Farias, on the brief).

PER CURIAM
      Defendant M.Z.1 appeals from the October 4, 2022 order granting plaintiff

C.C. a final restraining order (FRO) under the Prevention of Domestic Violence

Act (PDVA), N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 to -35. We vacate the FRO and remand for

further proceedings.

                                        I.

      The parties lived together between 2014 and 2022 and share a three-year-

old son. On January 12, 2022, plaintiff obtained a temporary restraining order

(TRO) against defendant, alleging he harassed and assaulted her during an

argument on January 11, 2022. Defendant's attorney entered his appearance in

the case on January 28, 2022.

      On February 18, 2022, the trial court entered a continuance order. The

order stated "all restraints previously ordered in the [TRO]" from January 12,

2022, "continue[d] in full force and effect" pending the final hearing on March

22, 2022.

      The court entered another continuance order on March 18, 2022, and

conducted a telephonic conference three days later to advise the parties the

March 22, 2022 trial date would be adjourned due to the unavailability of a

1
  We use initials for the parties to protect their privacy. See R. 1:38-3(d)(9) and
(10).

                                                                             A-0823-22
                                        2
Spanish interpreter. Because plaintiff could not be reached by phone that day,

the judge left her a message about the adjournment. However, defendant and

his attorney participated in the conference call. Defendant's attorney told the

judge he was aware the trial was scheduled for March 22, 2022; he also stated

he was available to try the case the following month on the date selected by the

court. Before the conference call concluded, the judge also advised defendant

that if he "violate[d] any restraining order[,] . . . [he could] be arrested and

charged with contempt" and that such a charge "carrie[d] up to a maximum of

[eighteen] months in state prison." Defendant stated he understood.

      On May 5, plaintiff amended her TRO to allege a history of domestic

violence   between the parties       that   included     terroristic threats,    false

imprisonment, sexual assault, and criminal sexual contact, N.J.S.A. 2C:25-

19(a)(3), (6), (7), and (8). She also amended the TRO to include the predicate

act of contempt of a domestic violence order, N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19(a)(17). Later

that day, the trial court conducted a telephonic conference call with the parties'

attorneys. Because defendant's attorney confirmed he had not yet received the

amended complaint and "need[ed] time to defend or respond to [plaintiff's] new

allegation," the judge again postponed the trial date.

                                                                                A-0823-22
                                        3
      On June 8, 2022, a judge newly assigned to the matter conducted a status

conference with counsel and rescheduled the trial to commence in August.

During the conference, the judge confirmed the trial would proceed on plaintiff's

alleged predicate acts of "assault [N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1], harassment, [N.J.S.A.

2C:33-4], and contempt of a [domestic violence] order."

      The parties and their counsel appeared for trial on August 25, 2022.

Before any testimony was elicited, the judge confirmed the TRO initially

included allegations "for assault and harassment" but was amended to include a

prior history of domestic violence and the predicate act of contempt.

Defendant's counsel asked, "[j]ust for housekeeping purposes, when [wa]s the

date of service . . . of the [original] restraining order?" Plaintiff's counsel

answered he "believe[d] the date [wa]s January 31[, 2022]." The judge asked

defendant's attorney, "[i]s [the service date] in dispute?" Defendant's attorney

answered, "[w]ell, . . . there[ is] an allegation of contempt . . . . That's why I

just want to make sure I get the date clear. . . . I don't think he was served until

either the end of January, or early February." The judge stated, "[w]e need to

check that, for sure," and defense counsel replied, "[y]eah."

      Plaintiff's attorney stated his copy of the TRO showed "service was made

on January 31[, 2022,]" and "there should be no dispute that [defendant] was

                                                                              A-0823-22
                                         4
served on January 31." After he provided a copy of the TRO to the judge

reflecting the service date, the judge noted the copy showed defendant was

"[s]erved personally [by] Essex County Family Court on January 31[]." She

also clarified the date of service was "only an issue with respect to the contempt"

allegation.

      Next, the judge heard testimony from both parties. Plaintiff testified that

on January 11, 2022, defendant was driving her and the parties' then two-year

old son when defendant directed plaintiff to "fix the child's car seat," believing

"the baby was not properly strapped into his car seat." Plaintiff testified the

child was asleep in the back of the car with her, so she told defendant she could

not adjust the car seat "because [she] would have to let the seatbelts loose."

According to plaintiff, her response angered defendant.          When defendant

stopped the car at a red light, he exited the vehicle, "pulled [her] out of the car"

by her shoulder, "punch[ed her] in the back of the head," and "pushed [her] to

drive." Plaintiff stated that she drove for the rest of the trip and "during that

whole transition[,] . . . [defendant] was saying offensive words to [her]."

      Next, plaintiff described the parties' history of domestic violence, stating

defendant was "violent with [her]" "on many occasions." She testified that

during one incident in 2013, defendant was angry that she was "laughing with

                                                                              A-0823-22
                                         5
[another] man" at a party they attended, and as they drove home, defendant

"grabbed [her] by the hair, and . . . hit [her]," causing her to suffer a bruised lip.

      Plaintiff also recalled another incident from 2015 when she "was in bed

laying down" and defendant "got home drunk."             Plaintiff stated defendant

"started insulting [her]," and although she "ignored him," he "grabbed [her] by

[her] feet, . . . threw [her] on the floor," and "hit [her]." Plaintiff also stated he

"pulled [her] hair" and "kick[ed her] . . . in the stomach."

      Next, plaintiff testified defendant was repeatedly sexually violent with her

during the relationship. She stated, "on one occasion[,] he tore my dress and . . .

forced me to have [sexual] relations with him," adding, "[i]t was always like

that, he would force me because if I didn't want to, he would get angry." Further,

plaintiff testified, "if I didn't accept and have relations with him, it was worse

the next day." She recalled "the last time this happened was . . . December 24[,]

of 2021." Plaintiff stated on that date, defendant "got home drunk from work,"

and although she "said no" to his sexual advances, "he forced [her] to be with

him, and then . . . just fell asleep there all drunk."

      When asked if defendant contacted her after she obtained the TRO,

plaintiff testified defendant sent her text messages "[t]hrough social media" so

she "block[ed] him." Further, she stated she "received text messages from

                                                                                A-0823-22
                                          6
[defendant] after January 31, 2022," the date defendant was served.

Additionally, plaintiff testified that on March 5, 2022, she received a letter from

defendant in a bag full of personal items he dropped off for her at his sister-in-

law's home. Plaintiff read the letter into the record, which stated, in part:

            Hello, [C.C.], I hope that you're well. I hope . . . that at
            the court we will be able to speak and we will be able
            to fix everything. I miss you and . . . [our son]. . . . I
            miss him a lot. . . . I've been going to church
            constantly. . . . And I've sworn not to drink for seven
            years. I hope that one day you will forgive me for not
            understanding. . . . I hope to change, and that God
            would return you back to me. . . . I love you, take care
            of yourself a lot, and I['ll] see you on the 22nd. I hope
            that everything is over, and that we are good parents
            towards [our son].

Although the letter was not dated or signed, plaintiff testified it was in

defendant's handwriting. She also explained why she sought an FRO against

defendant, stating:

            I don't feel safe without that order. On several
            occasions previously[,] he's come close to my job, he's
            waited for me, [and has been] out looking for me. Now,
            even more so, I just never want to go through that again.
            I don't want to have any physical or verbal contact with
            him. He's just a violent man . . . .

      During defendant's testimony, he denied committing any acts of domestic

violence against plaintiff. However, he admitted sending the letter plaintiff

referenced in her testimony. On cross-examination, defendant stated he sent the

                                                                                A-0823-22
                                         7
letter "in January" 2022. Plaintiff's attorney asked what defendant meant when

he referred in the letter to "seeing [plaintiff] on the 22nd." Defendant answered,

"[b]ecause I thought that all of this would end on the first court date." This

answer led to the following exchange:

            [PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY]: And when was the first
            court date?

            [DEFENDANT]: On the 22nd.

            [PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY]: 22nd of what month?

            [DEFENDANT]: I am not sure what month.

            [PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY]: If I were to tell you that
            you had a court hearing on March 20, 2022, would that
            be accurate?

            [DEFENDANT]: No. No, I don't remember because
            the court date . . . varied plenty of times.

            [PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY]: Okay.

            THE COURT: Yeah. . . . [L]et me just put something
            on the record right now.

                  ....

            This case initiated with [another judge]. We'd have
            to . . . get all these dates correct, the date [the TRO] was
            filed, the date it was served, [and] the very first court
            date that [the prior judge] had . . . .

                  ....

                                                                            A-0823-22
                                         8
             I'm trying to leaf through all this information to see
             what th[e parties'] court dates actually were. If you
             want to get this right, which I think is important that
             you do, I think we need to look at that.

             [DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEY]: Right. So[,] the letter
             references the 22nd. It has no month. And counsel just
             asked a question about March 20th. So[,] I wasn't even
             involved in this case at any point in time. [2]

             [PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY]: Neither was I.

             [DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEY]: So—okay.

             THE COURT: Yeah. Neither was I, so—

             [DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEY]: But, I mean, we don't
             even have consistency on the 22nd or the 20th
             [regarding] the dates that we're asking about now.

      After plaintiff's counsel noted defendant's letter was "being proffered to

show . . . [defendant] actually reached out to . . . plaintiff after there was a TRO,"

the judge acknowledged the parties' court dates were "pretty important." She

stated, "[w]e need to know what . . . the dates were, and . . . I should pull up the

file right now." Plaintiff's counsel immediately responded, stating, "I'm going

to ask the court to take . . . judicial—." The judge interjected, "I can only take

2
   Contrary to defense counsel's statement, the record shows he personally
participated in the March 21, 2022 telephonic conference with the court and
expressly represented during the conference that he was aware of the March 22,
2022 trial date.
                                                                               A-0823-22
                                          9
judicial notice o[f] what is actually [in] the record. . . . I'm going to do it right

now in front of everybody. Let me just pull up the history of th[e] case. . . .

This is really the only way to do it."

      Without objection from either attorney and while she remained on the

record, the judge promptly accessed the court's records, taking judicial notice of

the following:

             [The] TRO was . . . issued on January 12[,] . . .
             2022 . . . . That first appearance was initially
             scheduled for January 19, 2022. It . . . must have been
             an indefinite TRO, and . . . it was served on January
             31[], 2022.

                    Then[,] . . . on the 19th [of January], there was an
             indefinite [TRO] entered because . . . defendant had not
             yet been served. And then it looks like . . . plaintiff
             again appeared on February 18, 2022. But I don't
             think . . . defendant . . . appeared.

                   [On] March 18, 2022, I don't know what [the
             previous judge] was doing because I can't tell if the
             parties both appeared or not. These are all continuance
             orders. No appearance [was made] by either party [on]
             March 24, 2022.

                   ....

                   . . . [W]e're not clear on which day we're talking
             about.

                                                                              A-0823-22
                                         10
       Plaintiff's attorney added that he had "a continuance order dated February

18, 2022, setting a hearing for March 20, [20]22,"3 to which defendant's counsel

replied, "[r]ight. And the letter says 22[nd]." As counsel continued arguing, the

judge interceded and stated, "all I know from [defendant's letter] . . . is that he

said[,] [']see you on the 22nd. ['] This matter was continued numerous times."

Notwithstanding his prior admission to another judge during the March 21, 2022

telephonic conference, defendant's attorney told the trial judge, "[b]ut it was

never continued to the 22nd." In response, the judge advised counsel she would

"have to go through every single order to see if there were any other[ orders],"

and in the interim, counsel could "make whatever arguments [they] want[ed] to

make."

       Following closing arguments, the judge reserved decision on whether to

grant plaintiff an FRO. She told counsel, "I'm going to relisten to this entire

trial again . . . . because there's a lot of information here. . . . I need to . . . .

listen to it again and compare my notes to the testimony [to] make sure I got it

all right."

3
  However, the February 18, 2022 continuance order specifically directed the
parties to "appear for a hearing on [March 22, 2022] at 1:00 p.m."
                                                                               A-0823-22
                                        11
      On October 4, 2022, the judge entered an order granting the FRO. In her

accompanying oral opinion, the judge stated she "ha[d] some issues with respect

to the credibility of both parties." She found "both parties[] . . . indicate[d] there

was an argument while they were in the car" on January 11, 2022, but their

"stor[ies] differ[ed] . . . as to the critical facts." Additionally, the judge stated

she "believe[d] . . . plaintiff had enough of what she perceived as . . . defendant's

abuse" and "[t]here [wa]s enough in this record for [the judge] to acknowledge

that something was wrong between the parties that bothered . . . plaintiff ." But

the judge stated she was "just not sure specifically what that was," considering

"[p]laintiff's allegations were broad" and "[s]he spoke of years of abuse without

pinpointing actual dates."

      Next, the judge found "defendant's testimony was equally devoid of

specifics," so the parties' proofs were "in equipoise." Accordingly, the judge

concluded plaintiff failed to prove defendant assaulted or harassed her on

January 11, 2022. Similarly, the judge concluded there was "no persuasive

evidence in the record to prove" defendant committed the prior acts of domestic

violence alleged in plaintiff's amended complaint.

                                                                               A-0823-22
                                         12
      Nonetheless, the judge concluded she "ha[d] . . . plaintiff's testimony, . . .

defendant's limited testimony, [and] . . . additional evidence in the record to

support plaintiff's allegations . . . . on the contempt charge." The judge found:

            On or about March 5[], 2022, plaintiff picked up an
            item she needed for work and a toy for the couple's son
            at the home of [defendant's] sister-in-law . . . . The
            pickup [was] prearranged. On that day, with those
            items, . . . plaintiff also picked up an unsigned, undated
            letter in . . . defendant's handwriting.

                   . . . [D]efendant acknowledged he wrote it,
            although his testimony is that he wrote it in January
            before the first court date in this matter. In the body of
            the letter, he told . . . plaintiff he missed her and his son.
            He had been to church and had seen a priest, that he
            hoped God would bring them together, and that he
            loved her, in addition to other statements, and
            concluded with, "I'll see you on the 22nd."

      Next, the judge stated:

            [T]his case was transferred to me, and I went back and
            I checked the entire history of this case on the TRO. . . .
            But I had to focus on the beginning of the case. And
            what I found was the following: [t]hat the TRO was
            filed on January 12[], 2022. . . . [O]ur records
            indicate . . . defendant was served on January 31[],
            2022. I . . . suspect that is incorrect because [his
            attorney] filed a notice of appearance on January 28[].
            That means . . . defendant acknowledged or was served
            with the TRO before January 28[].

                  [A f]irst appearance [was] scheduled for January
            19[]. Only . . . plaintiff appeared because . . . defendant
            had not yet apparently been served. There was a

                                                                             A-0823-22
                                        13
            continuance order. [The s]econd appearance[ was]
            February 18[]. [The t]hird appearance[ was on] March
            18[]; it was a remote hearing. [4] [The trial] was
            rescheduled because a Spanish interpreter was needed.

                   And then there is a date in the TRO of March
            22[], 2022. I even went back and listened to [the judge
            previously assigned to this case] on the record . . . just
            to confirm and hear the audio of what happened at th[at]
            prior proceeding. And it was very clear to me that . . . .
            [t]he trial was scheduled for March 22[], 2022, by
            virtue of what the judge stated on the record.

                  Although . . . defendant stated he wrote the letter
            in January before the court date of the 22nd, there was
            no court date in January, on January 22nd. . . .

                   . . . [P]laintiff picked up the letter on March 5[],
            the one that was written by . . . defendant that referred
            to the 22nd. It had to have referred to the 22nd of
            March. Just logically, it makes sense. There is no
            conclusion other than . . . defendant [being] the one who
            left the letter and the other items for . . . plaintiff, whom
            he knew was going to pick them up. They are his words
            [in the letter]. There was an apology.

                   By communicating with her[,] when he knew he
            was prohibited from doing the same[,] is a direct
            violation of the [TRO] entered in this matter.
            Accordingly, I find . . . plaintiff . . . met her burden of
            proof with respect to [the] predicate act of contempt.

4
  Although a continuance order was entered on March 18, 2022, the "remote
hearing" addressing the need to reschedule the parties' March 22, 2022 trial date
occurred on March 21, 2022, and defendant, as well as his trial attorney,
participated in the March 21 telephonic conference.

                                                                            A-0823-22
                                        14
             And therefore, the first prong of Silver v. Silver [5] has
             been met.

       Next, the judge stated she "ha[d] to examine the second [Silver] prong

[and] its factors." 6 In considering whether the parties had a "previous history of

domestic violence," the judge noted she had not "made any specific findings as

to . . . prior acts," but found "plaintiff . . . made some non-specific allegations

of a history of abuse." Thus, although the judge concluded "the proof[s were]

in equipoise with respect to the testimony of both parties," she "account[ed] for

the fact that . . . plaintiff [made] . . . allegations" of a history of domestic

violence.

5
    387 N.J. Super. 112, 114 (App. Div. 2006).
6
  By statute, the factors a court should consider when determining whether to
grant an FRO include, but are not limited to:

       (1) The previous history of domestic violence between the plaintiff and
       defendant, including threats, harassment[,] and physical abuse;
       (2) The existence of immediate danger to person or property;
       (3) The financial circumstances of the plaintiff and defendant;
       (4) The best interests of the victim and any child;
       (5) In determining custody and parenting time the protection of the
       victim's safety; and
       (6) The existence of a verifiable order of protection from another
       jurisdiction.

       [N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(a).]

                                                                             A-0823-22
                                        15
      Turning to whether defendant posed a risk of "immediate danger" to

plaintiff, the judge stated, "[c]ounsel's closing arguments indicate that . . .

plaintiff needs to be free from the relationship, does not want to see . . .

defendant, [and] fears . . . defendant does not take the [TRO] seriously."

(Emphasis added). Further, the judge found plaintiff raised "allegations . . .

defendant . . . continued to try to contact her."

      Accordingly, the judge concluded:

            The heart of a finding of contempt is that a defendant
            feels comfortable enough to ignore even an order of the
            court, and that the possibility is great . . . defendant will
            continue to contact . . . plaintiff[,] showing no fear of
            the court or the consequences that could be imposed by
            the court. A named victim in a [TRO,] or one who
            alleges domestic abuse has a basic right to be left alone
            and not be contacted.

      Finally, in addressing the remaining applicable statutory factors, the judge

found:

            From looking at the amended [TRO], the parties already
            have worked out a parenting arrangement and a
            financial arrangement for support. There is simply no
            reason for . . . defendant to have had to contact . . .
            plaintiff, in light of the court's order. And thus, for . . .
            plaintiff's continued protection a[nd] to prevent her
            from the continuance of unwanted advances or contact,
            the granting of a[n FRO] is in her best interest to protect
            her from further contact and abuse, based on my review
            of the evidence and the finding[] of a predicate act.

                                                                            A-0823-22
                                        16
                  . . . I find . . . plaintiff has met her burden by a
            preponderance of the evidence in establishing the
            necessity for a[n FRO] . . . .

                                       II.

      On appeal, defendant argues the judge erred in entering an FRO against

him based on the predicate act of contempt because: (1) he did not commit a

predicate act of domestic violence; and (2) she failed to consider the second

Silver prong.

      Our scope of review of Family Part orders is limited. Cesare v. Cesare,

154 N.J. 394, 411 (1998). We owe substantial deference to the Family Part's

findings of fact because of its special expertise in family matters. Id. at 413.

Deference is especially appropriate in bench trials when the evidence is "largely

testimonial and involves questions of credibility." Id. at 412 (quoting In re

Return of Weapons to J.W.D., 149 N.J. 108, 117 (1997)). A trial judge who

observes witnesses and listens to their testimony is in the best position "to make

first-hand credibility judgments about the witnesses who appear on the stand."

N.J. Div. of Youth & Fam. Servs. v. E.P., 196 N.J. 88, 104 (2008).

      As such, we will not disturb a trial court's factual findings unless "they

are so manifestly unsupported by or inconsistent with the competent, relevant [,]

and reasonably credible evidence as to offend the interests of justice." Cesare,

                                                                            A-0823-22
                                       17
154 N.J. at 412 (quoting Rova Farms Resort, Inc. v. Invs. Ins. Co. of Am., 65

N.J. 474, 484 (1974)). However, we do not accord such deference to legal

conclusions and review such conclusions de novo. Thieme v. Aucoin-Thieme,

227 N.J. 269, 283 (2016).

       The purpose of the PDVA is to "assure the victims of domestic violence

the maximum protection from abuse the law can provide." G.M. v. C.V., 453

N.J. Super. 1, 12 (App. Div. 2018) (quoting State v. Brown, 394 N.J. Super. 492,

504 (App. Div. 2007)); see also N.J.S.A. 2C:25-18. Consequently, "[o]ur law is

particularly solicitous of victims of domestic violence," J.D. v. M.D.F., 207 N.J.

458, 473 (2011) (alteration in original) (quoting State v. Hoffman, 149 N.J. 564,

584 (1997)), and courts will "liberally construe[ the PDVA] to achieve its

salutary purposes," Cesare, 154 N.J. at 400.

       When considering whether the entry of an FRO is appropriate, a trial court

must first "determine whether the plaintiff has proven, by a preponderance of

the credible evidence, that one or more of the predicate acts set forth in N.J.S.A.

2C:25-19[(a)] has occurred." Silver, 387 N.J. Super. at 125. One such predicate

act is "contempt of a domestic violence order." N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19(a)(17).7

7
    An act of "contempt" under N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19(a)(17) occurs when a person:

                                                                             A-0823-22
                                       18
      If the court finds the defendant committed a predicate act of domestic

violence, then the second inquiry "is whether the court should enter a restraining

order that provides protection for the victim." Silver, 387 N.J. Super. at 126.

While the second inquiry "is most often perfunctory and self-evident, the

guiding standard is whether a restraining order is necessary, upon an evaluation

            (1) . . . purposely or knowingly violates any provision
            in an order entered under the provisions of the [PDVA]
            or an order entered under the provisions of a
            substantially similar statute under the laws of another
            state or the United States when the conduct which
            constitutes the violation could also constitute a crime
            or a disorderly persons offense.

                   ....

            (2) In all other cases a person is guilty of a disorderly
            persons offense if that person knowingly violates an
            order entered under the provisions of the [PDVA] or an
            order entered under the provision of a substantially
            similar statute under the laws of another state or the
            United States.

            [N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9(b)(1) and (2).]

The right of a plaintiff to seek an FRO, based upon a defendant's knowing
violation of a TRO, exists independently of whether the defendant's violation is,
or can be, the subject of a separate contempt proceeding in an action for violating
a restraining order under the court's "FO" docket, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:25 -
30 and N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9.
                                                                             A-0823-22
                                       19
of the factors set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29[(a)](1) to - 29[(a)](6), to protect the

victim from an immediate danger or to prevent further abuse." Id. at 127.

      "Under N.J.R.E. 201(b)(4), the [trial] court may, and if proper application

pursuant to N.J.R.E. 201(d) is made[,] must, judicially notice the records of the

court in which the action is pending . . . ." Biunno, Weissbard & Zegas, Current

N.J. Rules of Evidence, cmt. 12 on N.J.R.E. 201(b)(4) (2024). "The purpose of

judicial notice is to save time and promote judicial economy by precluding the

necessity of proving facts that cannot seriously be disputed . . . ." State v. Silva,

394 N.J. Super. 270, 275 (App. Div. 2007).

      Further, pursuant to N.J.R.E. 201(e), "[o]n timely request, a party is

entitled to be heard on the propriety of taking judicial notice and the nature of

the matter noticed. If the court takes judicial notice before notifying a party, the

party, on request, is still entitled to be heard." This Rule is consistent with the

well-settled principle that "[t]he minimum requirements of due process . . . are

notice and the opportunity to be heard." Doe v. Poritz, 142 N.J. 1, 106 (1995).

      Guided by these standards, we are constrained to vacate the FRO and

remand for further proceedings. The reasons for the remand are two-fold.

      We first address the need for a remand based on the judge's post-trial

decision to take judicial notice of the Family Part records in the domestic

                                                                               A-0823-22
                                        20
violence action. We reiterate that the judge initially took judicial notice of

certain Family Part's records during defendant's cross-examination. She did so

on notice to the parties, and at the request of plaintiff's counsel that the judge

resolve the attorneys' dispute about whether the parties were previously

scheduled for trial on March 22, 2022. Defendant's attorney lodged no objection

to the judge taking such judicial notice of the court's own records. Instead, he

erroneously advised the court that the parties were not previously scheduled to

try the case on March 22, 2022. Under these circumstances, and considering the

parties and their counsel were present at trial when the judge took judicial notice

of the court's records, we are persuaded she properly exercised her authority

under Rule 201(c) and (d) in that instance.

      However, we part company with the judge's subsequent decision to take

judicial notice of statements made by another judge during the March 21, 2022

conference—relative to the March 22, 2022 trial date—because she took judicial

notice of this record without advising counsel in advance, and then failing to

afford counsel an opportunity to be heard on what she discovered before

granting the FRO. Accordingly, we are compelled to remand this matter for the

limited purpose of allowing counsel to be heard regarding "the propriety of [the

                                                                             A-0823-22
                                       21
judge] taking [such] judicial notice and the nature of the matter noticed."

N.J.R.E. 201(f).

      The trial judge would not have needed to take judicial notice of the trial

court's prior proceedings if counsel correctly apprised the judge of previously

scheduled trial dates. Similarly, defense counsel failed to inform the judge that

he participated in a telephonic conference with the prior judge handling the

matter on March 21, 2022, and explicitly acknowledged on the record that day

that he knew the parties were scheduled to proceed to trial on March 22, 2022.

      Finally, we are constrained to remand this matter for the judge to revisit

her findings under the second Silver prong. In finding defendant posed "an

immediate danger" to plaintiff, the judge referenced the "closing argument[]" of

plaintiff's counsel, and that her counsel "indicate[d] . . . plaintiff need[ed] to be

free from the relationship, d[id] not want to see . . . defendant, [and] fear[ed] . . .

defendant d[id] not take the [TRO] seriously." Although the record contains

testimony from plaintiff supporting counsel's closing remarks, her attorney's

summation is not evidence in the case. Accordingly, we remand this matter for

the judge to reconsider her analysis under the second prong of Silver, without

reference to the closing remarks of plaintiff's counsel, and to allow her to more

fully evaluate the factors listed under N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(a)(1) to (6). In the

                                                                                A-0823-22
                                         22
interim, the restraints set forth in the FRO are vacated and the TRO is reinstated.

We offer no opinion on the outcome of the remand hearing.

      To the extent we have not addressed defendant's remaining contentions,

they lack sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion. R. 2:11-3

(e)(1)(E).

      Vacated and remanded. We do not retain jurisdiction.

                                                                             A-0823-22
                                       23