Pursuant to G.L. § 45-2-58, there is established a Municipal Court in the Town of Smithfield which shall assume jurisdiction of the subject matters set forth in §
60-7 hereof on the date the Municipal Court Judge is appointed by the Town Council.
The Court shall have the power to issue writs or summonses for
witnesses, and compel their attendance, and to punish for contempt
by fine or imprisonment. The Court may also execute search warrants
to the extent the warrants could be executed by a judge of the District
Court.
The Municipal Court shall be considered to be in session at
all times and at such place or places in the Town as the Municipal
Court or Judge holding Municipal Court shall determine, subject to
the provisions, however, that regular Court sessions shall normally
be held at the Smithfield Town Hall on the third Thursday of each
month at 3:00 p.m. With the exception of designating the regular location,
dates and times of Court sessions, the affairs of the Municipal Court
shall not be subject to supervision by the Town Council or any other
Town agency official.
The Municipal Court may impose a sentence not to exceed 30 days
in jail and impose a fine not in excess of $500, or both, and shall
be empowered to punish persons for contempt.
It shall be lawful for the Judge of the Court to prescribe and
vary the form of all complaints, warrants, writs, or other process
as to make the same consistent with the organization, style, and jurisdiction
of the Court. Such complaints, warrants, writs, and other process
shall have the same effect, validity, and extent, and be served, obeyed,
enforced, and returned, in the same manner and by the same officers,
as if issued from the District Courts. They may be served by any constables
of the Town who are authorized to serve process in civil or criminal
cases.