Rules of Court · Part 3 · New Jersey
R. 3:20-1 New Jersey Rules of Court, R. 3:20-1: Trial by Court or Jury, rendered as code with every cross-reference linked
Trial by Court or Jury
The trial judge on defendant's motion may grant the defendant a new trial if required in the interest of justice. If trial was by the judge without a jury, the judge may, on defendant's motion for a new trial, vacate the judgment if entered, take additional testimony and direct the entry of a new judgment. The trial judge shall not, however, set aside the verdict of the jury as against the weight of the evidence unless, having given due regard to the opportunity of the jury to pass upon the credibility of the witnesses, it clearly and convincingly appears that there was a manifest denial of justice under the law.
Note: Source-R.R. 3:7-11(a) (first and second sentences), 3:7-11(b); amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994.
Verbatim rule text, unmarked. Nothing here is a summary.
rule 3:20-1 "Trial by Court or Jury" {
The trial judge on defendant's motion may grant the defendant a new trial if required in the interest of justice. If trial was by the judge without a jury, the judge may, on defendant's motion for a new trial, vacate the judgment if entered, take additional testimony and direct the entry of a new judgment. The trial judge shall not, however, set aside the verdict of the jury as against the weight of the evidence unless, having given due regard to the opportunity of the jury to pass upon the credibility of the witnesses, it clearly and convincingly appears that there was a manifest denial of justice under the law.
Note: Source-R.R. 3:7-11(a) (first and second sentences), 3:7-11(b); amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994.
}
referenced_by: 3:25-4
source: njcourts.gov // verbatim; changed 2025-09-26; corpus harvested 2026-09-02R. 3:20-2 → · chapter 3:20 · all rules
The Rules of Court are a government edict and carry no copyright; the text above is the Judiciary’s own publication, unchanged. Structure, links and highlighting are ours and carry no legal weight. Read the rule on njcourts.gov before you rely on it; amendments take effect each September 1.