[1972 Code § 2-13.1; Ord. No. 2435-14 § 2]
There shall be a Municipal Court in the Township pursuant to
the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2B:12-1, et seq., as amended and supplemented,
to be known as the "Municipal Court of the Township of West Orange,
Essex County." The Municipal Court shall have a seal bearing the impress
of the name of the Court. The Court shall be held in the municipal
building of the Township, or such other place as the Township Council
shall designate from time to time, and shall exercise all the functions,
powers, duties and jurisdiction conferred upon Municipal Courts by
the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2B:12-1, et seq., as amended and supplemented,
or any other law.
[1972 Code § 2-13.2; Ord. No. 570-80 §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 2435-14 § 3]
There shall be two Judges of the Municipal Court appointed by
the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Township Council. The
Judges of the Municipal Court shall serve for a term of three years
from the date of appointment and until a successor or successors shall
be appointed and qualified. The Judges of the Municipal Court shall
receive such compensation as provided by ordinance by the Council.
The Judges of the Municipal Court shall have and possess the
qualifications, and shall have, possess and exercise all the functions,
duties, powers, and jurisdiction conferred by N.J.S.A. 2B:12-1, et
seq., as amended and supplemented by general law or ordinance.
The Mayor may designate one of such Municipal Judges as "Chief
Judge." The Chief Judge shall assume the prime administrative authority
for the operation of the Municipal Court in accordance with the rules
governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey.
The Mayor may appoint an Acting Municipal Court Judge with the
advice and consent of the Township Council, pursuant to Statute, and
subject to the rules governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey,
in the event of disqualification, incapacity, incompetency, or death
of one or both of the permanent, part-time Municipal Judges referred
to in this subsection.
[1972 Code § 2-13.3]
There shall be a Court Administrator who shall be appointed
by the Council and who shall perform such functions and duties as
shall be prescribed for him or her by law, the rules applicable to
Municipal Courts, and by the Judge of the Municipal Court. The Court
Administrator shall receive such salary as provided by ordinance by
the Council. His or her 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 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 the 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, 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
if there is a basis for formal action and, if necessary, issue summonses
requiring Court appearance in this regard; maintaining and classifying
records and files.
[Ord. No. 2200-09 § II]
Any party fulfilling the role of substitute municipal prosecutor
shall receive as compensation the hourly rate of $100 up to 3 1/2
hours for a maximum daily rate of $350.