New Jersey Municipal Court Matters:

It is through the Municipal Courts that most citizens in NJ come into contact with the judicial system, either as a defendant, a victim, or a witness. The Municipal Courts in New Jersey are considered courts of limited jurisdiction, having responsibility for

• motor vehicle and parking tickets;
• minor criminal-type offenses (such as simple assault and bad checks);
• municipal ordinance offenses (such as dog barking or building code violations);
• and other offenses, such as fish and game violations.

A Municipal Court usually has jurisdiction only over cases that occur within the boundaries of its municipality. Many serious criminal cases, such as robbery, auto theft, or assault, start out as complaints filed in the Municipal Court but those cases are transferred to the Superior Court located at the county courthouse.

If you have a municipal court matter and are looking for legal guidance in this process, please visit our New Jersey Municipal Court lawyers directory.