There shall be established in the Borough of
Runnemede a Municipal Court, to be known as the "Municipal Court of
the Borough of Runnemede."
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.
The qualifications of the Judge shall be those
as required by law.
The practice and procedure shall be governed
by state law, subject to rules as promulgated by the Supreme Court.
All costs and fees when collected shall become
municipal funds and shall be turned over to the custodian of Borough
funds.
All fines, penalties and civil costs shall be
disposed of according to law.
[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]
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.
[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.