MUNICIPAL COURT

Municipal Court Survey

Court Code - 1022

Judge - Gerard J. Shamey
Court Administrator - Julie Kosakowski 
Municipal Prosecutor - Brian S. Davis
Public Defender - Scott C. Mitzner

Court sessions are held on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Thursdays of the month.

PRINCIPALS OF THE JUDICIARY AND THE MUNICIPAL COURTS

MISSION STATEMENT
We are an independent branch of government constitutionally entrusted with the fair and just resolution of disputes in order to preserve the rule of law and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States and this State.

VISION STATEMENT
We will be a court system, characterized by excellence, that strives to attain justice for the individual and society through the rule of law. We will:

• Provide equal access to a fair and effective system of justice for all without excess cost, inconvenience, or delay, with sensitivity to an increasingly diverse society.
• Offer complementary methods of dispute resolution while preserving the constitutional right to trial by an impartial judge or jury and ensuring compliance with the results achieved through effective enforcement of court orders.
• Provide quality service that continuously improves, that meets or exceeds public expectations, and that ensures that all are treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect.
• Maintain the independence of the Judiciary while strengthening relations with the public, the bar, and the other branches of government.
• Acknowledge and enhance the potential of every person in our organization to contribute to the administration of justice through participation, training, and technology.
• Share a sense of common identity and purpose as a statewide Judiciary
• Earn the respect and confidence of an informed public.

CORE VALUES
Required to accomplish our mission are four paramount values representing the core of what we stand for as an organization:

• Independence
• Integrity
• Fairness
• Quality Service

YOUR DAY IN COURT

• English 
• Spanish 

HOW THE MUNICIPAL COURT STAFF CAN/CANNOT HELP YOU

We Can: 

• Tell you what the requirements are to have your case considered by the court
• Explain and answer questions about court procedures
• Give you some information from your case file
• Provide you with samples of court forms that are available (many are posted on the website)
• Answer your questions about court deadlines

We Cannot:

• Give your any legal advice. Only your lawyer can give you legal advice.
• Tell you if you should plea Guilty or Not Guilty
• Tell you what may happen if you bring your case to court
• Recommend a lawyer, here is a link for local lawyer referral service – https://www.huntcolaw.org/lawyer-referral/lawyer-referral-form/
• Talk to the Judge for you about your case
• Let you talk to the Judge outside of the Court
• Change an order issued by the Judge
• Welcome to New Jersey Courts

MUNICIPAL COURT

• By far, most of the cases filed in New Jersey's courts are heard in the Municipal Courts. In fact, about six million of the seven million cases filed in New Jersey's courts each year are filed in the Municipal Courts.
• The Municipal Courts hear a great variety of cases. Municipal Court is where cases involving motor-vehicles offenses, such as illegal parking, speeding and driving while intoxicated, are heard.
• Municipal Courts also hear cases involving minor criminal offenses such as simple assault, trespassing and shoplifting. In New Jersey, these minor crimes are known as disorderly persons offenses. Cases involving hunting, fishing and boating laws and even minor disputes between neighbors are also heard in Municipal Courts.
• Municipal Courts are operated by the city, township or borough in which the courts are located. There are 539 Municipal Courts in the state.

NEW Online Municipal Case Resolution - NO COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED!
Readington Township now offers online ticket review to dispute certain moving violations through the Online Municipal Case Resolution System.  By having a moving violation reviewed online, it is not necessary to make any court appearance.  Simply visit www.njmcirect.com and enter your ticket information to see if your offense is eligible, and select the option for Case Dispute.  Eligible traffic tickets will be reviewed by the prosecutor and you will be notified with their recommendation.  To see if you are eligible to have your matter reviewed online, please visit www.njmcdirect.com.

Payments:  Payments can be made online at www.njmcdirect.com.  You can also mail in your payment to 509 County Road 523, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889.  Please be sure to put your summons number on your check or money order.