Morris County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Morris County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Morris County.
What if I can’t afford an attorney?
The 6th Amendment guarantees you the right to an attorney whether or not you can afford one. If you cannot afford one, a public defender will be appointed by the court to represent you.
Who can help me in Morris County?
For general information about your case the Morris County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.
Morris County Criminal Court
What is a Plea Agreement?
A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.
Morris County Required Court Appearances
In Morris County, there are both required and non-required court appearances for the defendant. At a required or mandatory appearance hearing, the defendant is required to appear in person before the court. Failing to appear at your required hearing may result in a bench warrant being issued for your arrest by the judge.
Appealing a Criminal Conviciton
A defendant may appeal a criminal conviction to an appellate court. In an appeal, the actual trial is not redone, but the appellate court hears arguments that the criminal case was not handled in a legal manner at the original criminal court. The appellate court can either uphold the conviction, or determine that errors were made and may request a retrial, a resentencing of the defendant or that the charges be dismissed.
Who is the prosecutor for Morris County?
Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Morris County criminal cases will either be a representative of Morris County or a representative from New Jersey. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Morris County, after both the prosecution and defense have rested, the judge will give instructions to the jury and jury deliberations will begin. The jury will convence in a private room to discuss and deliberate the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Once the jury arrives at a unimanous decision, they will inform the judge that they have reached a decision. They will return to the court and the verdict will be read aloud. If the jury cannot reach a unaminous decision, the jury is said to be deadlocked and a mistrial will be declared in the case.
If guilty, who sentences the defendant?
If the defendant is found guilty after the trial, the defendent will be sentenced. In some cases, this can occur at the same hearing the defendant is found guilty in court, in other cases a separate hearing will be required. Often the prosecution will request a particular sentence for the defendant and the judge will determine whether to enforce this sentence or impose a different sentence for the defendant.
What happens in Morris County at an arraignment?
In Morris County the defendant is brought into court and informed by the judge of the charges that have been filed against them along with informing them of their rights. At this time, the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, there will be no trial and the defendant may be sentenced immediately or at a later date. If the defendant pleads not guilty a trial date is set.
Right to Jury Trial
For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.
Burden of Proof Requirement
In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Morris County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Morris County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
Morris County Criminal Court Locations
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Morris County Superior Court
Address: Washington & Court Street, PO Box 910, Morristown, NJ 07963
Phone: 973-656-4000 -
Morris County Superior Court – Civil Division
Address: Washington & Court Streets, PO Box 910, Morristown, NJ 07963
Phone: 973-656-4110 Fax: 973-656-4104 -
Morris County Superior Court – Criminal Division
Address: Washington & Court Streets, PO Box 910, Morristown, NJ 07963
Phone: 973-326-6995 Fax: 973-326-6973 -
Morris County Superior Court – Family Division
Address: Washington & Court Streets, PO Box 910, Morristown, NJ 07963
Phone: 973-656-4340 Fax: 973-656-4303 -
Morris County Surrogate Court
Address: 10 Court Street, PO Box 900, Morristown, NJ 07963
Phone: 973-285-6500 Fax: 973-829-8599 -
Boonton Municipal Court
Address: 100 Washington Street, Boonton, NJ 07005
Phone: 973-402-9410 Ext. 620 Fax: 973-299-0797 -
Boonton Township Municipal Court
Address: 155 Powerville Road, Boonton Township, NJ 07005
Phone: 973-402-4006 Fax: 973-402-4013 -
Borough of Madison Joint Municipal Court
Address: 50 Kings Road, Madison, NJ 07940
Phone: 973-593-3026 Fax: 973-593-3029 -
Butler Municipal Court
Address: 1 Ace Road, Butler, NJ 07405
Phone: 973-838-0559 -
Chester Borough Municipal Court
Address: 50 North Road, Chester, NJ 07930
Phone: 908-879-3660 Ext. 2126 Fax: 908-879-3140 -
Chester Township Municipal Court
Address: 1 Parker Road, Chester, NJ 07930
Phone: 908-879-5100 Ext. 816 Fax: 908-879-1837 -
Denville Township Municipal Court
Address: 1 Saint Mary’s Place, Denville, NJ 07834
Phone: 973-625-8300 Ext. 2 Fax: 973-625-0241 -
Dover Joint Municipal Court
Address: 37 North Sussex Street, Dover, NJ 07801
Phone: 973-366-2200 Ext. 1137 Fax: 973-989-1526 -
East Hanover Municipal Court
Address: 1000 Route 10 West, Whippany, NJ 07981
Phone: 973-428-2519 Fax: 973-515-3773 -
Florham Park Municipal Court
Address: 111 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932
Phone: 973-410-5324 -
Hanover Township Municipal Court
Address: 1000 Route 10 West, Whippany, NJ 07981
Phone: 973-428-2519 Fax: 973-515-3773 -
Jefferson Township Municipal Court
Address: 1033 Weldon Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
Phone: 973-208-6129 Fax: 973-208-7532 -
Kinnelon Municipal Court
Address: 130 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon, NJ 07405
Phone: 973-838-7644 Fax: 973-838-9161 -
Lincoln Park Municipal Court
Address: 34 Chapel Hill Road, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035
Phone: 973-694-6100 Ext. 2067 Fax: 973-270-2070 -
Long Hill Township Municipal Court
Address: 915 Valley Road, Gillette, NJ 07933
Phone: 908-647-8369 Fax: 908-647-4012 -
Mendham Borough Municipal Court
Address: 2 West Main Street, PO Box 520, Brookside, NJ 07926
Phone: 973-543-7526 Fax: 973-543-1856 -
Mendham Township Municipal Court
Address: 2 West Main Street, PO Box 520, Brookside, NJ 07926
Phone: 973-543-7526 Fax: 973-543-1856 -
Montville Township Municipal Court
Address: 360 Route 202, Suite 2, Montville, NJ 07045
Phone: 973-335-1022 Fax: 973-335-8941 -
Morris Plains Municipal Court
Address: 531 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Phone: 973-538-4019 -
Morristown Municipal Court
Address: 200 South Street, PO Box 150, Morristown, NJ 07963
Phone: 973-292-6687 Fax: 973-292-6748 -
Mount Olive Township Municipal Court
Address: 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road, PO Box 450, Budd Lake, NJ 07828
Phone: 973-691-0900 Ext. 7241 Fax: 973-691-0288 -
Mountain Lakes Municipal Court
Address: 1 St. Mary’s Place, Denville, NJ 07834
Phone: 973-625-8300 Ext. 2 Fax: 973-625-0241 -
Netcong Municipal Court
Address: 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road, PO Box 450, Budd Lake, NJ 07828
Phone: 973-691-0900 Ext. 7241 Fax: 973-691-0288 -
Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Court
Address: 3333 Route 46 East, Parsippany, NJ 07054
Phone: 973-263-7145 -
Pequannock Township Municipal Court
Address: 530 Newark-Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
Phone: 973-835-5700 Ext. 114 -
Randolph Township Municipal Court
Address: 502 Millbrook Avenue, Randolph, NJ 07869
Phone: 973-989-7054 Fax: 973-989-1496 -
Riverdale Municipal Court
Address: 91 Newark Pompton Turnpike, PO Box 6, Riverdale, NJ 07457
Phone: 973-835-1013 -
Rockaway Township Municipal Court
Address: 65 Mount Hope Road, Rockaway, NJ 07866
Phone: 973-627-9000 -
Roxbury Township Municipal Court
Address: 1715 Route 46 West, Ledgewood, NJ 07852
Phone: 973-448-2033 -
Victory Gardens Municipal Court
Address: 337 South Salem Street, Dover, NJ 07801
Phone: 973-366-5312 Fax: 366-9711 -
Washington Township Municipal Court
Address: 43 Schooley’s Mountain Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853
Phone: 908-876-3852 Fax: 908-876-0058