summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law, each judge of a municipal court serves for a term of three years from the date of appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified. In municipalities governed by a mayor-council form of government, the municipal court judge is appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.The judge of a joint municipal court is nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. In all other municipalities, the municipal judge is appointed by the governing body of the municipality. In a county that has established a central municipal court, the judge of the central municipal court is nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. This bill embodies Recommendation No. 32 of the Report of the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines, and Fees, issued June 2018. According to the report, a longer term of appointment would result in a more experienced bench, provide further stability to the leadership of a municipal court, and represent a shared commitment from all branches of government to provide additional protection to judicial integrity and independence.
AI Summary
This bill increases the term of a municipal court judge from three years to five years, a change that is intended to foster a more experienced judiciary, provide greater stability in court leadership, and reinforce the independence and integrity of the courts, as recommended by the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines, and Fees. The bill specifies that this new five-year term applies to appointments made on or after the bill's effective date, and it outlines the existing appointment processes for municipal court judges, which vary depending on the municipality's form of government or whether it is a joint or central municipal court.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S2498 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S2500/2498_I1.HTM |
Loading...