New York’s Unified Court System is restoring the filing of new nonessential lawsuits for New York City and downstate counties.

Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks made the announcement Wednesday in a memorandum to trial court judges. New matters, including those classified as “nonessential,” will now be able to be filed electronically for all New York City counties and the Long Island counties of Nassau and Suffolk, along with Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, UIster and Westchester counties.

“This expanded use of NYSCEF will permit a significant broadening of civil litigation in a manner that continues to ensure the highest measure of health and safety to judges, court personnel and the public……In recognition of the continued curtailment of in-court activities of court personnel and the public — and in contrast to the usual practice in consensual e-filing matters — this restoration of NYSCEF usage will be limited to cases in which represented parties file and serve all papers electronically,” Marks said in the memorandum.

Attorneys have not been able to file new nonessential lawsuits in these counties because of the restrictions imposed by the court system in March. There is now expected to be a large backlog of state court cases. You can read more about this announcement here.