Bernards Township Municipal Court

Bernards Township Municipal Court cases in Somerset County, Bernards, NJ

Bernardsville Municipal Court is a municipal court within New Jersey's Judiciary that exercises limited jurisdiction over matters arising in Bernardsville. It handles motor-vehicle and traffic violations (including DWI/DUI and parking), municipal ordinance and code violations, and non-indictable criminal matters such as disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses, as well as certain regulatory offenses (e.g., fish and game, weights and measures). The court conducts first appearances, probable-cause determinations, accepts pleas, and holds trials for these cases; complaints involving indictable crimes are forwarded to the Superior Court, Criminal Division. It does not hear civil lawsuits or family matters, which are handled by the Superior Court's Special Civil Part and Family Division, respectively.

Bernards Township Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Bernards Township Municipal Court

Bernardsville Municipal Court serves the public by handling:
- Traffic and parking offenses (including DWI)
- Municipal ordinance and housing/code violations
- Disorderly persons/petty offenses (e.g., simple assault, harassment, shoplifting)

Key services:
- Accepting case filings and citizen complaints; processing police-issued complaints
- Scheduling and conducting arraignments, pretrial conferences, plea hearings, bench trials, and sentencings
- Issuing warrants and subpoenas; setting conditions of release
- Collecting fines, fees, restitution; offering payment plans
- Providing interpreters, ADA accommodations, case records, and certified dispositions

Protective orders: municipal judges may issue temporary restraining orders in emergent situations when the Superior Court is unavailable.

Jury services: not provided-municipal cases are tried without juries; juror summons are handled by Somerset County Superior Court.