There shall be a Municipal Court in the Borough pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2B:12-1 et seq., to be known as the "Municipal Court of the Borough of Hightstown, Mercer County." The Municipal Court shall have a Seal bearing the impress of the name of the Court. The Court shall be held in the Borough Hall of the Borough of Hightstown or such other place as the Council designates from time to time and shall exercise all the functions, powers, duties and jurisdiction conferred by law upon Municipal Courts.
[Ord. No. 19-1994]
A. 
There shall be a Judge of the Municipal Court appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. The Municipal Judge shall serve for a term of three years from the date of appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Any appointment to fill a vacancy caused other than by expiration of term shall be made for the unexpired term only.
B. 
The Judge of the Municipal Court shall have and possess and exercise all the functions, duties, powers and jurisdiction conferred by law or ordinance. The Judge need not be a resident of the Borough, but shall be an attorney at law of the State of New Jersey.
[Ord. No. 19-1994; amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. 1-8)]
There shall be a Municipal Court Administrator appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council, who shall perform the functions and duties prescribed by law, by the rules and statutes applicable to municipal courts and by the municipal judge, and who shall be certified as required by law. The duties of the Municipal Court Administration 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 persons wishing to file criminal complaints or wishing information in this regard, receiving complaints and dispensing information relating to Court matters.
C. 
Maintaining the financial records of the Court.
D. 
Attending Court, recording pleas, judgments and dispositions, arranging trial calendars, signing Court documents and preparing and issuing warrants and commitments.
E. 
Taking and preparing bail bonds, recognizances and other security in lieu thereof, making inquiry concerning their sufficiency and equity and 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, issuing summonses requiring Court appearances; maintaining and classifying records and files.
G. 
Maintaining, forwarding, receiving and reporting such records, reports and files as are required by the Motor Vehicle Commission.
[Ord. No. 19-1994; Ord. No. 2000-32]
There shall be a Deputy Municipal Court Administrator who shall be appointed for a term of one year by the Mayor and Council upon the recommendation of the Municipal Court Administrator. The Deputy Municipal Court Administrator shall perform the functions assigned by the Municipal Judge and the Municipal Court Administrator.
[Ord. No. 19-1994]
To the extent it is not inconsistent with the requirements of the Municipal Judge and the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Municipal Court Administrator and the Deputy Municipal Court Administrator shall be subject to the Borough's Personnel Policy Manual pursuant to Article 2-12.
[Ord. No. 19-1994; Ord. No. 1997-36; Ord. No. 2015-05]
A person applying for representation by the Borough Public Defender shall pay an application fee which is equivalent to the maximum amount allowable under N.J.S.A. 2B:24-1 et seq. The Municipal Court may waive the fee, in whole or in part, if the Court determines, in its discretion, that the application fee represents an unreasonable burden on the person seeking representation. The Municipal Court may permit a person to pay the application fee over a specific period of time, not to exceed four months.