Nunc pro tunc is a Latin expression that translates to “now for then”—meaning to do something now, and for it to have retroactive effect, as if it had been done at a previous time. In the legal context, a judgment nunc pro tunc is a new or changed judgment signed by the court that has retroactive effect to the date the corrected judgment was signed.

The purpose of a judgment nunc pro tunc is to correct a clerical error in the judgment after the court’s authority to change the judgment (its plenary power) has expired. Even a significant change to the original judgment may be accomplished through a judgment nunc pro tunc if it merely corrects a clerical error.

Thus, a judgment nunc pro tunc can generally only be used to correct a clerical error the court made when writing or recording (entering) the judgment the court made (rendered)—and not a judicial error (a substantive error in judicial reasoning) in the judgment. In other words, if the signed judgment inaccurately reflects the true decision of the court, then the error is clerical and may be corrected by judgment nunc pro tunc.

In New Jersey, a judgment nunc pro tunc is a legal mechanism used to correct clerical errors in a judgment after the court's authority to alter the judgment has expired. This tool is intended to ensure that the written record accurately reflects the court's original intention at the time of the decision. It is important to note that nunc pro tunc cannot be used to amend substantive judicial errors, which are mistakes in the court's reasoning or decision-making process. Instead, it is limited to clerical mistakes, such as typographical errors or inaccuracies in recording the court's decision. The retroactive correction made by a judgment nunc pro tunc is as if the correct judgment had been entered at the original date. New Jersey courts adhere to this principle to maintain the integrity of the judicial process and ensure that the official record of court proceedings is accurate.