Elizabeth Municipal Court

Elizabeth Municipal Court cases in Union County, Elizabeth, NJ

Elizabeth Municipal Court is a municipal, limited-jurisdiction court in Elizabeth, New Jersey. It handles local motor vehicle and traffic offenses (including DWI), municipal ordinance violations, and non-indictable criminal matters such as disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses. The court also conducts first appearances and probable-cause determinations for indictable crimes before those cases are transferred to the Union County Superior Court. It does not adjudicate civil lawsuits, small claims, landlord-tenant, or family matters (such as divorce, custody, or child support); those are handled by the Superior Court. Its function is to provide swift resolution of minor criminal and traffic matters and manage preliminary proceedings for more serious offenses within the local judicial system.

Elizabeth Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Elizabeth Municipal Court

Elizabeth Municipal Court serves the public by handling lower-level offenses and essential court services. Core case types: traffic and parking violations, DUI/DWI, municipal ordinance violations (e.g., noise, housing/building, health), and disorderly persons/petty disorderly offenses. Limited preliminary matters may be conducted for indictable offenses before referral to Superior Court.

Key services:
- Case filings: accepts complaints for non-indictable offenses and ordinance matters; issues warrants and subpoenas.
- Protective orders: municipal judges can issue emergency temporary restraining orders in domestic-violence situations (final orders are handled by Superior Court).
- Court hearings: arraignments, pretrial conferences, motion practice, bench trials, and sentencing; interpreters and ADA accommodations available.
- Payments and compliance: processes fines/fees, time-payment plans, and community service.

Jury services: not provided; all trials are before a judge (no juries in municipal court).