Municipal Court

Jurisdiction

The Ocean Township Municipal Court is located in Town Hall, 309 Monmouth Road in Oakhurst. It is the first court to deal with all motor vehicle and criminal complaints within the Township. It hears non-indictable cases, including disorderly persons offenses, violations of Township ordinances, and all motor vehicle summonses including D.W.I. violations.

More serious, indictable complaints filed in the Municipal Court are forwarded to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office for disposition or remand. Domestic violence complaints are transferred to the Family Division of the Superior Court.

Complaint Resolution Committee

The Township of Ocean Complaint Resolution Committee is set up to avoid court action in non-violent neighborhood disputes. It is staffed by volunteer mediators trained by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The mediators work to bring disputing parties to an amicable agreement, allowing the judge to dismiss the court action.

Municipal Judge and Township Attorney

The Municipal Judge

Attorneys who are New Jersey residents and have practiced law for at least five years may be appointed to three year terms as Municipal Court Judges by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the council. Municipal Court Judges do not have tenure and are not subject to a mandatory retirement age, characteristics which distinguish them from other Judges in the Judiciary. The majority of the state's Municipal Court Judges serve only part‐time and, as a result, are able to maintain private law practices, subject to the Rules of Court.

The Municipal Attorney

[TBD]

Shared Services

West Long Branch contracts with Ocean Township for the use of its Municipal Court facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions