Editor's Note: This Chapter 12 will be part of the
Princeton Code.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
A municipal court for the municipality of Princeton is established
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2B:12-1 et seq.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
The name of the municipal court shall be the "Municipal Court
of Princeton."
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
There shall be a municipal judge of the municipal court, who
shall be appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the
council and shall serve for a term of three years from the date of
appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Any
appointments to fill a vacancy not caused by the expiration of term
shall be made for the unexpired term only.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
With the written consent of the Assignment Judge of the vicinage,
the municipality may (1) increase the number of judgeships of the
municipal court, or (2) appoint one or more temporary judges. Each
term of a temporary judge shall not exceed one year. Appointment of
any of the foregoing additional judges shall be made by the mayor
with the advice and consent of the council.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
Subject to the Rules of Court, the Assignment Judge of the vicinage
may appoint an acting judge of the municipal court to serve as judge
temporarily when the municipal court judge is unable to hold the municipal
court or for other cause.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
The municipal court judge shall be a resident of New Jersey
and an attorney-at-law admitted to practice in this state for at least
five years. The municipal court judge shall be paid an annual salary
in an amount prescribed by the council in the annual salary ordinance.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
The municipal court shall have jurisdiction over cases arising
within Princeton, namely, those specified offenses enumerated in N.J.S.A.
2B:12-17, and as may be otherwise conferred by the laws of New Jersey.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
The municipal court shall be held at the municipal building
at 400 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ at the time designated by
the municipal judge, and at such other times as the business of the
court may require, subject to the rules applicable to municipal courts.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
There shall be a certified municipal court administrator and
a certified deputy court administrator of the municipal court, as
well as other necessary employees. The court administrator and deputy
court administrator shall be appointed by the mayor with the advice
and consent of the council, and shall be compensated in accordance
with the annual salary ordinance. The municipal court administrator
and deputy administrator are authorized to attest in the municipal
judge's name and sign any process, order, warrant, or judgment
issued by the municipal court. The administrator and deputy administrator
shall also have the authority granted by law and by the Rules of Court
to administrators and clerks of courts of record.
The judge of the municipal court may designate, in writing,
an acting administrator or deputy administrator to serve temporarily
for an absent administrator until the absent administrator returns
or until a new administrator is appointed.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
Before assuming the duties of office, the municipal judge or
municipal court administrator, deputy administrator or other municipal
court employees who handle money in the scope of their employment
shall be covered by a bond or insurance against loss or misappropriation
of funds payable to the municipality in an amount and with terms set
by the council.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
Any law enforcement officer, or any other person authorized
by law, may act in the service, execution and return of process, orders,
warrants and judgments issued by the municipal court.
[Ord. No. 2014-11]
(a)
The administrator or deputy administrator of the municipal court,
when authorized by the municipal judge, may exercise the power of
the municipal court to administer oaths for complaints filed with
the municipal court and to issue warrants and summonses.
(b)
The police officer in charge of the police station, other than an
officer who participated in the arrest of the defendant, may exercise
the power of the municipal court to administer oaths for complaints
filed with the municipal court. Any police officer may issue summonses
related to such complaints and may as authorized by the Rules of the
Court issue a summons in lieu of an arrest for an offense committed
in the officer's presence.
(c)
The authority of the municipal court to set conditions of pre-trial
release may be exercised by the administrator or deputy administrator
of the municipal court who is authorized by the municipal judge; or
by the police officer in charge of the police station, other than
an officer who participated in the arrest of the defendant. The authority
may be exercised only in accordance with bail schedules promulgated
by the Administrative Office of the Courts or by the municipal court.
(d)
Except as otherwise provided by the Rules of Court, a person charged
with a non-indictable offense shall be released on summons or personal
recognizance without unnecessary delay and within 12 hours after arrest
unless the judge or court administrator has set the conditions for
pretrial release and the conditions remain unmet.
(e)
A person acting for the municipal court as authorized in this section
shall immediately file the complaint, warrant, summons or recognizance
which was the subject of the action with the municipal court.
