Union County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Union County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Union County.
Can I appeal a guilty verdict?
If found guilty, a defendant may decide to appeal his case to an appelate court. The appellate court will not retry the case, they will examine the proceedings in the lower court to make sure they were done in a legal manner. The appellate court can either uphold the original conviction, or determine that due to errors made in the original trial, that there must be a retrial, resentencing or a complete dismissal of the charges.
Jury by Trial Right
The US Constitution (Article 3 along with the 6th Amendment) ensures an accused defendant the right to a jury trial. This applies to crimes that have a $500 fine or a potential sentence of six months in jail (aka Serious Crimes). This right to trial by jury can also be waived by a defendant.
Union County Criminal Court
Right to an attorney
The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment ensures the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not you can afford one. In Union County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
Sentencing in Union County
In Union County if the defendant is found guilty (by trial or plea), the defendant will be sentenced. This sometimes occurrs immediately after being found guilty, but can also take place at a later date. In most instances, a judge will impose the sentence that is requested by the prosecution, but they also have the descretion to impose a different sentence.
Prosecutor in Union County
In Union County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Union County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent New Jersey. For the most part, the prosecutor in Union County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.
Union County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Union County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Union 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.
I need help for my Union County criminal case
The best place to get information about your criminal case is from an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one to represent you which will assist in your case. For general information about your case the Union County court clerk is able to provide general information about your specific case (e.g. date/time hearings, mandatory appearance, what will take place and what you will be required to do). The court clerk for Union County will NOT be able to provide legal advice for your case, only an attorney can provide legal advice. The court clerk can provide legal information (like the information found on this website) about your case but cannot provide advice about what you should do in your legal manner.
Can I request a Plea Agreement?
In Union County you may be able to enter into a plea agreement depending upon the severity of the charges. It is also dependant upon the prosecution willing to accept a plea agreement. You can ask your attorney to attempt to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution to avoid having a jury trial along with the potential for a more serious sentence. Approximately 9 out of 10 criminal cases usually end in a plea agreement.
Mandatory Appearances in Union County Criminal Court
At a mandatory or required court appearance in Union County, the defendant must appear before the court. In the event of a “Failure to Appear” the judge may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant. Note: not all criminal hearings are mandatory, in a non-mandatory hearing an attorney may appear on your behalf without you being in court.
Burden of Proof
The burden of proof is always on the prosecution in a criminal trial. In other words, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. The defense must only prove that there is a reasonable possibility that the defendant did NOT commit the crime. If the prosecution cannot prove that the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury will be instructed to find the defendant not-guilty.
What happens in Union County at an arraignment?
In Union 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.
Union County Criminal Court Locations
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Union County Superior Court
Address: 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908-659-4600 -
Union County Superior Court – Civil Division
Address: 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908-659-4810 -
Union County Superior Court – Criminal Division
Address: 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908-659-4660 Fax: 908-659-4661 -
Union County Superior Court – Family Division
Address: New Annex Building, Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908-659-5827 -
Union County Surrogate’s Office
Address: 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908-527-4280 -
Union County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Cranford
Address: 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016
Phone: 908-527-4280 -
Union County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Linden
Address: 31 East Henry Street, Linden, NJ 07036
Phone: 908-527-4280 -
Union County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Summit
Address: 512 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: 908-527-4280 -
Union County Surrogate’s Satellite Office – Union
Address: 1976 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
Phone: 908-527-4280 -
New Providence Municipal Court
Address: 360 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974
Phone: 908-665-1454 Fax: 908-665-9873 -
Berkeley Heights Municipal Court
Address: 360 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974
Phone: 908-743-1055 Fax: 908-665-9873 -
Clark Township Municipal Court
Address: 315 Westfield Avenue, Clark, NJ 07066
Phone: 732-381-5395 Fax: 732-381-9630 -
Cranford Municipal Court
Address: 8 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016
Phone: 908-709-7242 Fax: 908-709-7244 -
Elizabeth Municipal Court
Address: One Police Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Phone: 908-558-6800 Fax: 908-558-7580 (Traffic) -
Fanwood Municipal Court
Address: 75 North Martine Avenue, Fanwood, NJ 07023
Phone: 908-322-6750 Fax: 908-322-1378 -
Garwood Municipal Court
Address: 403 South Avenue, Garwood, NJ 07027
Phone: 908-789-0780 Fax: 908-789-6414 -
Hillside Township Municipal Court
Address: 1409 Liberty Avenue, Hillside, NJ 07205
Phone: 973-926-1881 Fax: 973-926-2240 -
Kenilworth Municipal Court
Address: 567 Boulevard, Kenilworth, NJ 07033
Phone: 908-276-1104 Fax: 908-276-1597 -
Linden Municipal Court
Address: 301 North Wood Avenue, Linden, NJ 07036
Phone: 908-474-8429 Fax: 908-474-8619 -
Mountainside Municipal Court
Address: 1385 US Highway 22 East, Mountainside, NJ 07092
Phone: 908-232-5335 Fax: 908-233-6412 -
Plainfield Municipal Court
Address: 325 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
Phone: 908-753-3064 Fax: 908-753-3030 -
Rahway Municipal Court
Address: 1 City Hall Plaza, Rahway, NJ 07065
Phone: 732-827-2039 Fax: 732-381-9879 -
Roselle Municipal Court
Address: 210 Chestnut Street, Roselle, NJ 07203
Phone: 908-245-5600 Fax: 908-245-3366 -
Roselle Park Municipal Court
Address: 110 East Westfield Avenue, Roselle Park, NJ 07204
Phone: 908-241-4631 Fax: 908-241-5719 -
Scotch Plains Municipal Court
Address: 430 Park Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ 07046
Phone: 908-322-6700 Ext. 216 Fax: 908-322-0680 -
Springfield Municipal Court
Address: 100 Mountain Avenue, Springfield, NJ 07081
Phone: 973-912-2213 Fax: 973-912-2287 -
Summit Municipal Court
Address: 512 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: 908-273-6166 Fax: 908-522-1693 -
Union Township Municipal Court
Address: 981 Caldwell Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
Phone: 908-851-5400 Fax: 908-851-5256 -
Westfield Municipal Court
Address: 425 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090
Phone: 908-789-4060 Fax: 908-654-1520 -
Winfield Township Municipal Court
Address: 12 Gulfstream Avenue, Winfield, NJ 07036
Phone: 908-925-3938