At municipal court, the judge decides the law and the facts for lower-level criminal offenses, traffic tickets, ordinance violations, and more. This is the first stop for serious criminal cases – which usually move on to a jury trial at the county court – but it is the first and last stop for most other criminal cases.
Municipal court might be the “lowest” level of court in New Jersey, but these courts can still issue bench warrants, revoke bail, and send you to jail after sentencing for minor crimes. As such, it is vital to have a lawyer represent you in every stage of your case. There are also chances for significant victories for more serious criminal cases as they have to pass through municipal court and meet certain burdens before they can go to trial at the Superior Court level.
For a free assessment of this case with our attorneys for municipal court, call Lombardo Law Group at (609) 418-4537.
Municipal Court for Misdemeanors/Disorderly Persons Offenses in Cherry Hill
If you are up against charges for a disorderly persons offense – NJ’s name for misdemeanor offenses – the case will take place in municipal court. This is the level of court where you will be arraigned, have bail set, and face trial. In many cases, these trials move quickly, and our attorneys for a case in municipal court will be able to move the case from the preliminary stages through the trial in only a few weeks.
It is vital to have a lawyer represent you in this kind of case, as you could face 6 months in jail if you are convicted. It is also important to note that your constitutional rights (both under the U.S. Constitution and the NJ Constitution) only give the right to a jury trial if the case is a felony – what NJ calls “indictable crimes.” These charges include a chance of more than 1 year in jail, which is not possible for disorderly persons charges. As such, these trials will be bench trials, with decisions of guilt or innocence made by the judge instead of a jury. However, our lawyers can still skillfully defend these cases, and experienced judges are often better at technical distinctions than lay jurors, potentially helping your case rather than hurting it.
Municipal Court for Traffic Tickets and DWI Charges in Cherry Hill
Traffic offenses are also handled at municipal court, meaning that any challenges to speeding tickets, parking tickets, or other low-level tickets will take place at this level. Our attorneys can represent you in these cases to help you avoid points on your license of potential suspensions.
Some of the most serious traffic offenses like reckless driving and drunk driving are considered disorderly persons offenses, so those trials will also take place in municipal court. As such, our lawyers can defend you against DWI charges and other similar charges at your municipal court trial.
Municipal Court for Indictable Crime Preliminary Hearings in Cherry Hill
The initial stages of more serious offenses, from arraignment to setting bail to a preliminary hearing, also take place in municipal court.
At your arraignment, the charges against you are listed and you enter your plea. This is the first appearance where you get to have a lawyer represent you, and our lawyers can guide you as to why a “not guilty” plea is typically the best option for you if you want to continue fighting the charges against you.
Bail is also set at this stage. Most cases do not warrant cash bail under NJ’s rules, but you might have cash or bond required if the court sees you as a flight risk. If you are seen as a danger to the community, the judge might even try to revoke your right to bail entirely. Our goal is always to get release on your own recognizance (ROR), where the defendant pays nothing and is trusted to return to their next court date without extra measures in place. However, we might have to fight to get bail set in the first place if the judge has decided you are a flight risk or a danger.
For indictable crimes – punishable by over a year in prison – the trial will not take place in municipal court but will be sent up to the county Superior Court. However, the municipal court usually does hold a preliminary hearing where the government needs to put on witnesses and evidence to show that they have probable cause to continue with the case. This is usually in place of a grand jury indictment and has a low bar for the government to meet their case. However, it is a prime opportunity to get a look at the evidence they will use at trial, challenge some of the evidence against you, and potentially even get the case thrown out if the government cannot meet its burden.
How to Dress for Municipal Court in Cherry Hill
As mentioned, your time spent in municipal court is likely to include your actual trial if you are facing lower-level charges – or at least the early stages of your case if you face more serious charges. As such, you should dress professionally for your appearance before the judge who might be deciding whether or not you ultimately spend time in jail.
This usually means wearing a suit or a conservative dress. Alternatively, it should be appropriate to wear slacks/khakis and a button-down shirt with a tie or a skirt and blouse, likely with a jacket or sweater. Generally, sneakers, sweatshirts, workout clothes, and jeans should be avoided to make a good impression. Dressing appropriately for court shows the judge you are an upstanding member of society, but it also shows that you are taking the proceedings seriously and professionally, which goes a long way toward staying on a judge’s good side.
Call Our Lawyers for Municipal Court in Cherry Hill Today
If you are facing criminal charges, call (609) 418-4537 for a free case assessment with the attorneys for a case in municipal court at Lombardo Law Group.
