Municipal Courts in New Jersey
Hamilton Municipal Court Lawyer Offering Experienced Legal Representation In Mercer County, Middlesex County, and Monmouth County, NJ
Don’t underestimate the potential consequences of facing charges in municipal court in New Jersey. While the offenses prosecuted in these courts with narrow jurisdiction are generally less serious than criminal matters tried in Superior Court, they still carry penalties like significant fines and potential jail time. To help you minimize the impact of these charges, you need a defense attorney who is familiar with the workings of municipal courts in New Jersey.
The Scardella Law Firm LLC represents the accused against charges filed at all levels, from municipal court to federal cases. We’re determined to get our clients the best possible outcomes, from dismissals of charges and not-guilty verdicts to reduced penalties in the event of a conviction.
Contact us today to take advantage of a free consultation to speak with an experienced Hamilton Municipal Court lawyer about your options.
Charges in New Jersey Municipal Courts
Traffic law violations, municipal ordinance violations, charges of driving under the influence (DUI), and less severe criminal offenses are often tried in municipal courts in New Jersey. You might face charges in municipal court arising out of alleged violations like the following:
- Simple assault
- Harassment
- Shoplifting
- Theft
- Drug possession
- DUI and DWI
- Driving with a suspended license
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Parking violations
Some of these offenses are significantly more serious than others. In particular, violations that constitute disorderly persons offenses, New Jersey’s term for misdemeanors, can expose you to significant consequences if you are convicted.
What’s at Stake When You’re Facing Charges in Municipal Courts in New Jersey
Some of the least severe offenses in municipal courts in New Jersey, like parking tickets, result in little more legal trouble than fines. However, other charges filed in municipal courts in New Jersey are serious enough to lead to significant fines and potentially a jail sentence.
Disorderly persons offenses, which you could be charged with for violations like simple assault, harassment, drug possession (in small quantities), and shoplifting less than $200 of merchandise, generally carry fines of up to $1,000. If convicted, you could also face up to six months of jail time.
In the case of DUIs, DWIs, and serious traffic violations, you could potentially lose your license as well as face penalties like fines and a potential jail term. Additionally, you could be subject to surcharges and other financial penalties.
Even after you have served your sentence, a conviction in municipal court could still impact your record, leaving you facing challenges in your personal and professional life. Your best option for avoiding the harshest penalties and minimizing the impact of these charges on your life is hiring an experienced Hamilton Municipal Court lawyer to prepare a strong defense.
Your Rights When Charged With an Offense in Municipal Courts in New Jersey
In municipal court, as in courts at other levels, you have legal rights. As a defendant facing potential fines and jail time, you need to protect and preserve your rights—starting with the right to hire an experienced Hamilton Municipal Court lawyer to defend you against the charges. Our work in defense of our clients ensures that you are afforded all protections and fair treatment under the law.
In municipal court cases, as in criminal cases filed in other courts, you have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. The burden is on the prosecutor to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt by presenting relevant, properly obtained evidence against you. In support of your case, your Hamilton Municipal Court lawyer can present evidence on your behalf, question witnesses, and challenge any improper methods of obtaining evidence or other types of rights violations.
How The Scardella Law Firm LLC Can Help
At The Scardella Law Firm LLC, we’re dedicated to providing the strong defense you need when facing charges in municipal courts in New Jersey. We know that an effective defense against these charges matters, and we construct strong defenses for the accused in municipal court using the same skills we rely on to develop legal strategies in the most serious legal cases.
The Scardella Law Firm LLC achieves the most positive outcomes possible for our clients through smart and effective legal strategies personalized to the specific facts of your case. We don’t hesitate to explore all avenues for getting charges dismissed or downgraded, and we’re prepared to construct out-of-the-box arguments in your defense.
Why Choose The Scardella Law Firm LLC?
Who should you choose for help navigating legal issues filed in municipal courts in New Jersey? When you need legal counsel with a long history of getting favorable results for defendants facing all types of charges in Mercer County, you need The Scardella Law Firm LLC.
A Longstanding Commitment to Serving Hamilton Township and All of Mercer County
If you’re looking for a Hamilton Municipal Court lawyer with a long history of defending the accused throughout Mercer County, The Scardella Law Firm LLC is a clear choice. Lauren E. Scardella, Esq. is a Mercer County Native with prior experience working in the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office during law school. Since 2009, she has provided skilled legal representation to defend people accused of all types of offenses.
A History of Getting Charges Dropped or Reduced and Securing Not-Guilty Verdicts in Court
In the course of representing countless clients, our firm has cultivated a reputation for securing favorable results. We explore all avenues through which it may be possible to get your charges dismissed while constructing the type of strong defense that can help you secure a not-guilty verdict if your case goes to court. The results of our smart, thorough approach to legal defense have included getting charges dropped and downgraded, securing acquittals at trial, and otherwise minimizing the impact of criminal charges.
Comprehensive Legal Defense for Charges of All Types
Our firm provides skilled legal defenses for all types of allegations, which means we’re prepared to assist you with any type of charges or citations you could be facing. We take your municipal court case just as seriously as charges filed in Superior Court or even federal court.
Contact a Hamilton Municipal Court Lawyer at The Scardella Law Firm LLC Today for a Free Case Evaluation
With so much uncertainty, the importance of protecting your legal rights can’t be overstated. Consulting an attorney who is familiar with the workings of municipal courts in New Jersey and having your case reviewed at no cost ensures you have the knowledge to make informed decisions about your legal defense.
For help from an experienced attorney for charges in municipal courts in New Jersey, contact The Scardella Law Firm LLC online or call 609-372-5285 today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Facing Municipal Court Charges in New Jersey
What type of municipal court cases can an attorney assist you with?
A Hamilton Municipal Court lawyer at The Scardella Law Firm LLC can defend you against the full array of charges and violations handled in city court. We’re here to help you fight disorderly persons charges that involve matters like harassment, simple assault, and drug possession. We defend those accused of DUI and DWI, as well as traffic violations like speeding and reckless driving. We can also assist you in defending against fish and game violations and local ordinance infractions such as noise ordinance violations.
What should you do if you have been charged with a crime in Hamilton Municipal Court?
If you have been charged with a crime in any of the municipal courts in New Jersey, you should take this matter seriously. Offenses tried in municipal court can still carry significant penalties, so you should consult an attorney about your rights and defense strategies as soon as possible. By contacting an attorney for a free consultation, you can be made aware of potential strategies that could help you reduce the impact of this legal issue on your future.
Why should you hire a lawyer for charges filed in municipal court in New Jersey?
Even if the citation or charge you’re facing in municipal court could be resolved by paying a fine, it could still impact you negatively in significant ways, such as by exposing you to risks of higher insurance premiums, surcharges, and points that could lead to license suspension. Other matters tried in municipal court, such as disorderly persons offenses, can lead to potential jail sentences. It’s often in your best interests to retain an experienced attorney to help you fight the charges or citations against you to minimize the consequences of this legal matter not only in your immediate future but also in your long-term future.
What types of defenses might a Hamilton Municipal Court Lawyer use?
Your defense strategy should be based on the specifics of your situation, including the facts of your case and the elements the prosecution is required to prove. Examples of the types of strategies our team might consider as we approach building your legal defense include challenging the accuracy and completeness of the evidence in the case against you, seeking to have any improperly obtained evidence suppressed, and presenting arguments of lack of intent, lack of knowledge, or self-defense.
