There is hereby established in and for the Borough of Riverdale in the
County of Morris a Municipal Court, pursuant to Chapter 264 of the Public
Laws of 1948, as amended by Chapter 394 of the Public Laws of 1948.
The name of this Court shall be "Municipal Court of the Borough of Riverdale
in the County of Morris" and shall have such civil and criminal jurisdiction
as provided by law.
[Amended 9-21-1992 by Ord. No. 4-92]
Said Municipal Court shall have a Judge who shall be known as the "Municipal
Judge" who shall have such qualifications as may be provided by law. The Municipal
Judge shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Borough
Council and shall serve for a term of three years from the date of his appointment,
until his successor is appointed and qualifies.
Said Judge shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take
and subscribe to an oath, as provided by law. The salary of said Judge shall
be as set forth in the payroll ordinance, and said salary shall be in lieu
of any and all fees and costs.
The Borough Council may by resolution provide for a Court Clerk and
such other necessary clerical and other assistants as they may deem necessary.
The Borough Council shall provide the necessary accommodations for the
Court and shall furnish a Court Seal as required by law, as well as other
necessary supplies.
Whenever said Judge of said Municipal Court shall be unable to sit as
such Judge, he may designate any other Judge of any Municipal Court or an
attorney at law to sit for him temporarily and hold the Municipal Court, provided
that any such designation shall be made in writing and shall be filed in said
Court, and any such person so designated, while sitting temporarily, shall
have all the powers of the Judge of said Court.
Anything in this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, the duties,
powers and jurisdiction of said Municipal Court and the Judge thereof shall
be such as shall from time to time be prescribed or established by law and
the rules of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and this chapter shall at all
times be subject to any provisions of law and said rules of the Supreme Court
of New Jersey affecting the duties, powers and jurisdiction of said Court
or the Judge thereof.
[Added 3-2-1998 by Ord. No. 3-98]
A. An attorney at law of the State of New Jersey shall be
appointed to act as Municipal Court Public Defender. The Municipal Court Public
Defender shall be appointed by the Borough Council, and shall serve for a
term of one year from the date of his or her appointment until a successor
is appointed and qualified.
B. A person applying for representation by a Municipal Public
Defender shall pay an application fee ranging from $50 to $200. The application
fee may be waived by a Municipal Court Judge. The Municipal Court Judge may
allow the fee to be paid over a four-month period, where appropriate. The
funds collected as application fees shall be turned over to the Chief Finance
Officer to be deposited in a dedicated fund to cover the costs incurred in
providing a Municipal Public Defender.
[Amended 5-18-1998 by Ord. No. 5-98]