Municipal Court

Location

The Eatontown Municipal Court operates out of the Tinton Falls Municipal Court located at 556 Tinton Avenue, Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07727

Mission Statement

The Municipal Court is 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.

Eatontown Court 

Eatontown Court is in session on Thursdays at 8:00 am

MUNICIPAL COURT DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

The Municipal Court is a part of the Unified State System of Courts, supervised by the Administrative Office of the Courts and, ultimately, the Supreme Court of New Jersey. The most direct oversight of all Municipal Courts in Monmouth County is by the Assignment Judge of Superior Court and the Trial Court Administrator. 

The court officers in Eatontown are the Municipal Judge, the Municipal Court Administrator, the Deputy Court Administrator, the Violations Clerk and the Data Entry Clerk. 

The Prosecutor, who must be an attorney, is supervised by the Police Department. A Public Defender may be appointed at the municipal level. 

The Superior Court in Freehold handles all indictable offenses. On occasion, the same Municipal Court structure functions as a Special Court, with the Municipal Judge presiding, to address particular problems, such as a backlog in drunken-driving offenses. 

The Municipal Court addresses all offenses categorized as Disorderly Persons, Traffic (e.g. driving while intoxicated), Health Department matters, violations of Fish and Game regulations, and specific violations concerned with juveniles. 

The Court Administrator must also meet additional requirements imposed by The Domestic Violence Act and amendments to the drug laws. 

Mediation

Also known as Community Dispute Resolution Program (CDRP).

The CDRP is a group of experienced and trained volunteers from the community. The volunteers are appointed by the Court and approved at the County level to assist citizens in resolving their disputes through the process of Mediation. Its fundamental purpose is to function as a service to the community by endeavoring to helpfully intervene in a dispute prior to the case formally entering the Criminal Justice System. Mediation sessions are confidential, therefore Mediators are prohibited from discussing the case with anyone prior to or after the conference. Only those individuals directly related to the case are allowed to be present. Once a complaint is filed the Municipal Court Judge will determine whether or not a case is to be sent to Mediation or onto Court.  Not all cases are eligible to participate in the CDRP. Cases that cannot be resolved through Mediation or those considered too complex will be referred back to the Municipal Court for a scheduled formal hearing.

The CDRP operates under specific rules that have been established by the NJ State Supreme Court Committee on Dispute Resolution Programs.