There shall be a Municipal Court in the Township
pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2A:8-1 et seq., to be known
as the "Municipal Court of the Township of Washington, Morris County."
The Municipal Court shall have a seal bearing the impress of the name
of the Court. The Court shall be held in the Township Hall or such
other place as the Township Committee shall designate from time to
time, and it shall exercise all the functions, powers, duties and
jurisdiction conferred upon Municipal Courts by law.
A.
There shall be a Municipal Judge of the Municipal
Court who shall be appointed by the Township Committee. The Municipal
Judge shall serve for a term of three years from the date of appointment
and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
B.
The Municipal Judge shall have and possess the qualifications
and shall have, possess and exercise all the functions, duties, powers
and jurisdiction conferred by law or ordinance. He shall be an attorney
at law of the State of New Jersey. Whenever the Municipal Judge is
unable to sit as such, he may designate any other Judge or any Municipal
Court (except a nonattorney Judge) or an attorney at law to sit for
him temporarily and hold the Municipal Court. Any such designation
shall be made, in writing, and be filed in the court, and any person
so designated, while sitting temporarily, shall possess all the powers
of the Municipal Judge.
There shall be a Clerk of the Municipal Court
who shall be appointed by the Township Committee and shall perform
the functions and duties prescribed for him by law, the rules of court
applicable to Municipal Courts and by the Municipal Judge. His duties
shall include, but not be limited to:
A.
Carrying out the rules, regulations, policies and
procedures relating to the operation of the Court.
B.
Interviewing and speaking to persons wishing to file
criminal complaints or wishing information in that regard, receiving
complaints and dispensing information relative to Court matters.
C.
Maintaining the financial records of the Court.
D.
Attending Court; recording pleas, judgments and dispositions;
arranging trial calendars; signing Court documents; preparing and
issuing warrants and commitments.
E.
Taking and preparing bail bonds, recognizances and
security in lieu thereof, making inquiry concerning their sufficiency
and equity, and receiving and accounting for fines and costs.
F.
Interviewing persons on informal police court matters
to determine if there is a basis for formal action, issuing summonses
requiring Court appearances, if necessary, and maintaining and classifying
records and files.
G.
Maintaining, forwarding, receiving and reporting such
records, reports and files as are required by the State Director of
Motor Vehicles.
The Township Committee may appoint a Deputy
Clerk of the Municipal Court who shall perform the functions assigned
to him by the Municipal Judge and by the Municipal Court Clerk.
