There shall be a Municipal Court of the Borough pursuant to
the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2A:8-1 et seq., as amended and supplemented,
to be known as the "Municipal Court of the Borough of Spotswood."
The Municipal Court shall have a seal bearing the impress and name
of the Court. The Municipal Court shall be held in the Borough Hall
or in such other place as the Council shall from time to time designate
by resolution. It shall exercise all the functions, powers, duties
and jurisdiction conferred upon municipal courts by the provisions
of N.J.S.A. 2A:8-1 et seq., as amended and supplemented, or by any
other law.
There shall be a Judge of the Municipal Court, appointed by
the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, who shall serve
for a term of three years from the date of appointment and until a
successor is appointed and qualifies. The Municipal Judge shall possess
the qualifications and shall have and exercise all the functions,
duties, powers and jurisdiction conferred by N.J.S.A. 2A:8-1 et seq.,
as amended and supplemented, or by any other general law or ordinance.
There shall be a Clerk of the Municipal Court, who shall be
appointed by the Mayor for a term of one year and who shall perform
the functions and duties prescribed for him by law, by the rules applicable
to municipal courts and by the Municipal Judge. His duties shall include,
but shall 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 prospective complainants, receiving complaints and
dispensing information relating to Court matters.
C. Maintaining
the financial records of the Court.
D. Attending
Court, taking minutes of trials and entering them in the docket; arranging
trial calendars; signing Court documents; preparing and issuing warrants
and commitments.
E. Taking
and preparing bail bonds and making inquiry as to their sufficiency
and equity; receiving and accounting for fines and costs.
F. Interviewing
persons on informal Police Court matters to determine whether there
is a basis for formal action and, if necessary, issuing summonses
requiring Court appearances in this regard; maintaining and classifying
records and files.
There may be a Court Attendant of the Municipal Court, appointed
by the Mayor for a term of one year, who shall perform the functions
and duties assigned to him by the Municipal Judge and by the Municipal
Court Clerk.