Borough of Runnemede, NJ Chapter 16 Court, Municipal

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Runnemede 12-14-1948 by Ord. No. 93 (Ch. 7 of the 1970 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 16-1 Establishment.

There shall be established in the Borough of Runnemede a Municipal Court, to be known as the "Municipal Court of the Borough of Runnemede."

§ 16-2 Judge to preside.

The Court shall be presided over by a Judge appointed by the Mayor and Council for a term of three years from the date of his appointment and until his successor is appointed and qualified.

§ 16-3 Qualifications of Judge.

The qualifications of the Judge shall be those as required by law.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original § 7-4, Jurisdiction, which immediately followed this section, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 16-4 Practice and procedure.

The practice and procedure shall be governed by state law, subject to rules as promulgated by the Supreme Court.

§ 16-5 Cost and fees collected to become municipal funds.

All costs and fees when collected shall become municipal funds and shall be turned over to the custodian of Borough funds.

§ 16-6 Disposition of fines, penalties and civil costs.

All fines, penalties and civil costs shall be disposed of according to law.

§ 16-7 Application for Public Defender services; fee.

[Added 10-4-1994 by Ord. No. 94-10]

In order to obtain the services of the Municipal Public Defender, an application must be filed with the Municipal Court on a form provided by the Borough. The application form shall be consistent with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 2A:158A-1 et seq.

A. The Municipal Court Judge shall make the decision as to which defendants are indigent after reviewing the defendant's application. This determination shall be based upon whether the applicant fits within the definition of "indigent defendant" found within N.J.S.A. 2A:158A-2.

B. A defendant who qualifies for the Borough of Runnemede's Municipal Court Public Defender shall pay an application fee of up to $250 plus a court fee of $33.

[Amended 12-30-1997 by Ord. No. 97-18[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

C. The defendant's inability to pay the application fee shall in no way affect or reduce the rendering of services to him. In case of a defendant who is unable or unwilling to pay the application fee, the fee shall become a lien, and the Borough may collect the fees consistent with N.J.S.A. 40:6A-1 and N.J.S.A. 2A:158A-19.

D. In all cases where it appears that the defendant has, or reasonably expects to have, means to meet some part, though not all, of the cost of the services rendered to him, he shall be required to reimburse the Borough, either by single payment or installments, in such amount as he can reasonably be expected to pay; but no default or failure in making of such payment shall in any way affect or reduce the rendering of services to him. The determination of ability to make part payment shall be made by the Municipal Court Judge, based on the defendant's application for Municipal Public Defender assistance.

§ 16-8 Use of Public Defender application fee.

[Added 10-4-1994 by Ord. No. 94-10]

All moneys collected for the use of this application fee shall be used exclusively to help defray the cost of administering the Municipal Public Defender System.