UNION COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURTS
Michael D'Ecclessis
Municipal Division Manager
Superior Court of New Jersey
Union County Courthouse
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207-6001
Telephone: (908) 659-4940
The Municipal Division is responsible for a wide range of programs and technologies aimed at improving the Municipal Court System and the services that it renders to the citizenry of the State of New Jersey. In Union County there are twenty-one municipal courts. These are located in Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union, Westfield, and Winfield.
The Municipal Court is the court of lesser criminal and quasi-criminal jurisdiction in the state. Yet the late Chief Justice Vanderbilt stated that it was the most important court, because it was here that the majority of our citizens receive their only impression of our system of justice. The processing of all indictable charges begins in the municipal court. Disorderly persons offenses, traffic offenses and violations of local ordinances are all adjudicated in the municipal court. The municipal court is also the court where victims of domestic violence are able to request temporary restraining orders during the hours that Superior Court is not in session.
The Municipal Court is divided into a violations bureau and the trial court. Most traffic and ordinance violations can be paid through the violations bureau. Offenses that require a court appearance and contested matters are scheduled for court. The court hours vary in each municipal court and are listed within this state. You now have the ability to pay most tickets online. The website address is http://www.NJMCDirect.com. You will be prompted to enter all the ticket information and if the ticket is payable, you will be able to pay by credit card and generate a receipt.
Recently inaugurated in the municipal court was the Complementary Dispute Resolution (CDR) program. This is a program in which disputes between citizens may be resolved through mediation. This program is staffed by volunteers who have had a minimum of 18 hours of specialized training. Examples of the type of cases that can be heard in mediation are: harassment; simple assault; theft of property or services under $200.00; trespassing; bad checks under $200.00; noise complaints; disorderly conduct; destruction of property; creating a disturbance; and animal complaints.
UNION COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURTS
| CODE | MUNICIPALITY | CT. ADMIN/DEPUTY CT. ADMIN | JUDGE |
| 2001 | Berkeley Heights |
Joan Bierbaum, CMCA Jeannette E. Sarka, DCA |
Donald P. Bogosian, JMC 908-464-2666 (Office) 908-464-1134 (Fax) |
| 2002 |
Clark 315 Westfield Ave 07066-1704 Telephone: 732-381-539 5 Fax: 732-709-7244 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: 1 st & 3 rd Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. 2 nd Wednesday 6:00 p.m. |
Lorraine Disko,CA |
Antonio Inacio, JMC 732-340-0017 (Office) 732-340-0801 (Fax) |
| 2003 |
Cranford 8 Springfield Ave 07016-2117 Telephone: 908-709-724 2 Fax: 908-709-7244 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Court: Monday, 5:30 p.m. Additional Sessions as scheduled Special Sessions on Thursday, 12 p.m., as directed |
Carol Campbell, CA Lorraine Powell, DCA |
James M. Bell, JMC 908-276-3060 (Office) 908-709-7244 (Fax) |
| 2004 |
Elizabeth Municipal Court One Police Plaza Annex: 07201-2307 208 Commerce Pl. Telephone(s): 2 nd Floor 07201-2307 908-558-6800 908-558-6803 908-558-6822 Fax: 908-558-1503 Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 10 p.m. |
Teresa Estrada, CD Margaret Gonzalez, CMCA Angelina Southern, DCA Nancy Hanratty, DCA Patricia Goldate, DCA |
Roman A. Montes, Chief Judge 908-558-6821 Carl L. Marshall, JMC 908-282-6800 (Office) 908-282-6801 (Fax) Daniel Russell, JMC 908-353-5714 (Office) Richard J. Obuch, JMC 908-351-1149 (Office) 908-353-3474 (Fax) |
| 2005 |
Fanwood 75 N. Martine Street 07203-1341 Telephone: 908-322-6750 Fax: 908-322-1378 Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: Thursday 4:00 p.m. (Twice Monthly) |
Joy Veeck, DCA Donna Zucker, DCA |
Susan M. MacMullen, JMC 908-301-0317 (Office) 908-301-1170 (Fax) |
| 2006 |
Garwood 403 South Ave 07207-1296 Telephone: 908-789-0780 908-789-5970 Fax: 908-789-6414 Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: Monday 7:00 p.m. (twice monthly) |
Martha Marino, CMCA Anita Ruscansky, DCA |
Susan M. MacMullen, JMC 908-301-0317 (Office) 908-301-1170 (Fax) |
| 2007 |
Hillside 1409 Liberty Ave 07205-1398 Telephone: 973-926-1881 Fax: 973-926-2240 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: 3 rd, 4 th & 5 th Tuesday 8:30 a.m.; Thursday 5:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. |
Mary Ann Corcoran, CMCA Roseanne F. Amato, DCA |
Norma Garcia, JMC 973-808-1234 (Office) 973-808-8480 (Fax) Harold S. Wovsaniker, JMC 973-923-6649 (Office) |
| 2008 |
Kenilworth 567 Boulevard 07033-1654 Telephone: 908-276-1104 Fax: 908-276-1597 Court: Monday 7:00 p.m. Special Sessions when necessary Thursday 5:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. |
Joanne Szelingiewicz, CMCA Barbara Grabowski, DCA Debra Ann Wiess, DCA |
Jonathan H. Rosenbluth, JMC 973-761-5333 (Office) 973-761-0456 (Fax) |
| 2009 |
Linden 301 N. Wood Ave 07036-4926 Telephone: 908-474-8546 908-474-8547 908-474-8429 Fax: 908-474-8619 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Court: Tuesday & 1 st Wednesday 8:30 a.m. Remaining Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Monday 6:00 p.m. (Sept.-May) |
Elizabeth Gavigan, CMCA Doretha Blassingame, DCA Carole L Friedman, DCA, CMCA |
Louis M. J. DiLeo, JMC 908-925-5115 (Office) 908-925-5116 (Fax) |
| 2010 |
Mountainside 1385 Route #22 07092-2603 Telephone: 908-232-5335 908-232-2400 Fax: 908-233-6412 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Court: Thursday 9:00 a.m. 2 nd Wednesday 5:00 p.m. No Court 2 nd Thursday |
Vivian Hoff, CMCA Debra Velard, DCA |
James DeRose, JMC 908-233-6800 x365 (Office) 908-233-5078 (Fax) |
| 2011 |
New Providence 360 Elkwood Avenue 07974-1844 Telephone: 908-665-1454 Fax: 908-665-9873 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Court: 1 st & 3 rd Thursday 5:30 .m. |
Macrina Carra, CMCA |
Donald P. Bogosian, JMC 908-464-2666 (Office) 908-464-1134 (Fax) |
| 2012 |
Plainfield 325 Watchung Ave 07060-1787 Telephone: 908-753-3472 908-753-3078 908-753-3081 908-753-3062 Fax: 908-753-3030 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 7:00 p.m. |
Marylene Sheppard, CMCA Gwendolyn Taylor, DCA,CMCA Susan Sanchez, DCA Ramona Iwer-Slaughter, DCA |
Joan Robinson Gross, JMC 908-753-3065 (Office) 908-753-3030 (Fax) 908-659-3690 (M-W-F) 908-659-3877 (Fax: M-W-F) Andrew Baron, JMC 732-381-8448 (Office) 908-232-1195 (Fax) Charles Craig, JMC 973-540-0599 (Office) 973-540-9404 (Fax) |
| 2013 |
Rahway One City Hall Plaza 07065-9985 Telephone: 732-827-2039 732-381-8000 Fax: 732-381-9879 Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: Thursday 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. 2 nd Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – DWI 3 rd Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – Private Sessions |
Beverly Zimmerman, CA Yvonne Briggs, DCA |
David Ericksen, JMC 732-382-4781 (Office) 732-382-4756 (Fax) |
| 2014 |
Roselle 210 Chestnut Street 07203-1218 Telephone: 908-245-5588 908-245-5928 Fax: 908-245-3366 Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Court: Tuesday 6:30 pm. Thursday 9:00 a.m. 3x per month |
Stella Fellner, CA Joanne Papa, DCA |
Georgia Jones, JMC 973-275-9125 (Office) 973-275-9128 (Fax) |
| 2015 |
Roselle Park 110 Westfield Ave 07204-2803 Telephone: 908-241-4631 Fax: 908-241-5719 Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: Thursday 9:30 a.m. |
Maria Bruchal, CMCA Rose Cooper, DCA |
Jeffrey M. Angelo, JMC 908-241-4631 (Office) 908-317-0088 (Pager) |
| 2016 |
Scotch Plains 430 Park Ave 07076-1798 Telephone: 908-322-6700 Option #9 Fax: 908-322-0680 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: Monday 1:00 p.m. 1 st Monday 6:00 p.m. |
Yvonne Rude, CMCA Susan Eide, DCA, CMCA |
Antonio Inacio, JMC 732-340-0017 (Office) 732-340-0801 (Fax) |
| 2017 |
Springfield 100 Mountain Ave 07081-1702 Telephone: 973-912-2213 973-912-2214 973-912-2278 Fax: 973-912-2287 Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: Monday 5:00 p.m. |
MaryJo Banchansky, CMCA Ethel J. Copeland, DCA |
Steven W. Firsichbaum, JMC 973-560-9000 973-560-0060 (Fax) |
| 2018 |
Summit 512 Springfield Ave 07901-2267 Telephone: 908-273-6166 908-273-6122 Fax: 908-522-1693 Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Court: Wednesday 9:00 a.m. 1 st Wednesday 9:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. |
Eileen Keating, CMCA Patricia Dugan, DCA, CMCA |
Donald P. Bogosian, JMC 908-464-2666 (Office) 908-464-1134 (Fax) |
| 2019 |
Union 981 Caldwell Ave 07083-6756 Telephone: 908-851-5400 908-851-5403 Fax: 908-851-5256 Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Court: 1 st Appearance Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Trials: Monday 9:00 a.m.; Tuesday 9:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.; Thursday 6:00 p.m. |
Pat Nasta, CMCA Dolores DiMarco, DCA Donna Brooke, DCA Debra Weiss, DCA |
Peter R. Brogan, Chief Judge 908-276-1100 (Office) 908-276-1103 (Fax) Jonathan H. Rosenbluth, JMC 973-761-5333 (Office) 973-761-0456 (Fax) |
| 2020 |
Westfield 425 Broad Street, E. 07090 - 2196 Telephone: 908-789-4060 Fax: 908-654-1520 Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Court: Wednesday 8:30 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. |
Linda Chieffo, CMCA Ann Margeotes, DCA Carol Salvaggio, DCA, CMCA |
Brenda Coppola Cuba, JMC 908-233-9950 (Office) 908-233-5612 (Fax) 908-337-7289 (Pager) |
| 2021 |
Winfield 12 Gulfstream Ave 07036-6698 Telephone: 908-925-3937 Fax: 908-925-4526 Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Court: 2 nd & 4 th Wednesday 7:00 p.m. |
Stella Fellner, CA Debra Ann Weiss, DCA |
Jeffrey M. Gechtman, JMC 908-964-8310 (Office) 908-964-0072 (Fax) |
UNION VICINAGE MUNICIPAL PROSECUTORS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS
MUNICIPALITY |
PROSECUTOR |
PUBLIC DEFENDER |
Berkeley Heights |
Craig V. O'Connor |
August Santore, Jr. |
Clark |
Jon Henry Barr, Jr. |
Mark P. Ciarocca |
Cranford |
Norman Albert |
John J. DeMassi |
Elizabeth |
Norma Murgado Ashton Thomas Patricia Mack Anabella Decruz-Melo Judy DeRosa |
Jeoffrey Hill Candido Rodriguez Chanima Odoms Jocelyn Carter |
Fanwood |
Lara DeFabrizio |
Kelly A. Waters |
Garwood |
Steven H. Merman |
Edward S. Cooper |
Hillside |
Lara DeFabrizio
Hugh Keffer (908) 272-0200 |
Samuel M. Manigault |
Kenilworth |
Lara DeFabrizio |
Daniel R. Bevere
Tracy Zalinski (973) 325-2100 |
Linden |
Nicholas P. Scutari |
Anthony Palumbo |
Mountainside |
Frank Sahaj |
Kelly A. Waters |
New Providence |
Robert C. Thelander |
John DeMassi |
Plainfield |
Robert Wilson
Sheila Elington |
Steven Brister Clarence Barknight Joy Spriggs |
Rahway |
Richard A. Fazzari |
Daniel J. McCarthy |
Roselle |
Dave Conti
Anthony Mack (973) 624-7800 |
Manuel Grova |
Roselle Park |
Michael Mitzner |
Harvey Fruchter |
Scotch Plains |
Randolph Brause |
Thomas Russo |
Springfield |
Michael Wittenberg |
Robert S. Bohrod |
Summit |
Michael Mitzner |
John J. Demassi |
Union |
Drew Bauman Mark Cassidy Michael Wittenberg |
William Strazza Jennie Berlinski |
Westfield |
Christine Nugent |
Michael Panagos |
Winfield |
Dave Conti |
Scott Mitzner |
Introduction
The Community Dispute Resolution Program utilizes trained volunteers from your locality to help resolve disputes. Mediation is often the preferred option for disputes that involve people in ongoing relationships such as neighbors, friends, relatives, and co-workers. Mediation is available to everyone who lives or works in Union County.
Why should I try Mediation?
Mediation is a structured and confidential form of negotiation that provides you with a convenient, fair, and effective way to resolve disputes. If your case is heard in court before a judge, there is usually at least one loser: You do not negotiate, and you do not decide what happens to your case. The judge must make a decision in accordance with the law.
In mediation, by contrast, you have significant control over the process. A court-appointed, trained mediator assists you and the person(s) with whom you in conflict in negotiating a solution to your problem. It is a solution that both sides consider fair and reasonable. Mediation often results in a win-win outcome. Moreover, no one ever gets a police record.
What are the costs?
Mediation is free. There are no court costs, and there is no payment to the mediators.
Who are the Mediators?
Mediators are concerned members of the community who have volunteered their time and talents to provide a free, effective, and timely method for settling disputes. They are required to complete an intensive training course and to participate in ongoing educational activities. All mediators must be approved by the N. J. Superior Court.
What Kinds of Matters are Appropriate for Mediation?
Mediation can be used for the less serious kinds of disputes that you may consider taking to Municipal Court. These matters include conflicts between neighbors, landlord-tenant disputes, disagreements between customer and merchants, and a wide assortment of interpersonal problems such as noise complaints and conflicts involving pet owners.
How does Mediation Work?
In order to maximize the likelihood of success, it is important that both parties cooperate with the mediator and understand some basic ground rules. Specifically, the following points are important:
1. Mediators do not decide who is right or wrong. They facilitate a discussion between the parties.
2. The parties are expected to negotiate in GOOD FAITH. Both sides will be committed to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.
3. Each side will be given an equal chance to talk, but only one person may speak at a time.
4. Name calling, foul language, rowdy behavior, and threats will not be tolerated.
5. Only individuals directly involved in the dispute are allowed to be present at mediation sessions.
6. Mediators are prohibited from discussing the dispute with anyone not directly involved.
7. Although not required for the purposes of mediation, evidence (e.g., receipts or photographs) may be submitted; and witnesses may appear so long as they contribute relevant information. It is the disputants' responsibility to arrange for the appearance of any witnesses.
8. Attorneys may attend mediation sessions in an advisory capacity, but they are not allowed to actively participate.
9. Mediation sessions are confidential. Disclosures and proposals made in an effort to resolve disputes cannot be used in any subsequent court proceeding concerning the matter.
The Agreement
If an agreement is reached, the mediator will put it in writing. Each party will sign the agreement and receive a copy. If no agreement is reached or if an agreement is subsequently broken, the complaining party may wish to pursue a formal action in Municipal Court.