code: @NullSafe
    public static boolean isNew(Thread thread) {
      return (thread != null && Thread.State.NEW.equals(thread.getState()));
    }
docs: Determines whether the specified Thread is a new Thread.  A "new" Thread is any Thread that has not been
  started yet.
  
  @param thread the Thread to evaluate.
  @return a boolean value indicating whether the Thread is new.
  @see java.lang.Thread#getState()
  @see java.lang.Thread.State#NEW