The following is not legal advice:
Most of us know that Bruen turned the six remaining "May Issue" states, into "Shall Issue" states.
In New Jersey, the process is going slow. There are apocryphal reports of some permits being issued in some counties. If such permits have indeed been issued they are few and far between.
In general, under New Jersey law, carry permit applications are first filed with the local police chief who has 60 days to approve or disapprove.
If denied by the local police chief the applicant has 30 days to request a hearing by the County Superior Court. According to the New Jersey Supreme Court a hearing must be held no later than 30 days after receipt of the permit to carry application, and the court shall make a determination within 14 days thereafter, absent extraordinary circumstances.
If approved by the local police chief, the application goes to County Superior Court to be given final approval or disapproval.
If not denied after 60 days by the local police chief the application is deemed approved by the local police chief and it goes to County Superior Court to be given final approval or disapproval
It is likely that the local chiefs of police and the County Superior Courts are experiencing a significant backlog in considering the flood of applications filed since the Bruen decision. In fact, it is said that the State Police are expecting 200,000 applications in the near term.
Please note, until the Bruen decision, the local police chiefs and the County Superior Courts were bound by New Jersey statute and Jersey caselaw to deny virtually every prior application and there were only 600 unrestricted carry permits in the entire state.
A New Jersey Court directive mandating certain procedures in processing carry permit applications is
Here
The New Jersey State Supreme Court decision adopting the Directive is
Here
(Note: As stated by the Acting New Jersey Attorney General
Here, except for the "Justifiable Need" requirement, all requirements of New Jersey law pertaining to the carrying of firearms remain in full force and effect. Anyone carrying without a permit should expect strict enforcement, relentless prosecution, no mercy from the courts and severe penalties if convicted.)