Municipal Court 101 Seminar
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18
NJSBA Annual Meeting Wednesday
Borgata Hotel 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Municipal Court Track
Salon C | Borgata
Cosponsored by the Municipal Court Practice Section
Join experienced practitioners for an introductory program that will provide you with the essential basics of municipal court practice.
Speakers:
Kenneth A. Vercammen, Esq.
Hon. Harry D. Norton Jr., J.M.C.
Jacob P. Davidson, Esq.
Adam Herbst, Esq.
Moshood Muftau, Deputy County Counsel
Joshua H. Reinitz, Esq.
Kevin McKernan, Esq.
Description:
This is an introduction to municipal court for recently admitted attorneys or for attorneys who is new to the practice area or wants a refresher. Experienced practitioners and judges will discuss important procedures, practical information and practice tips.
THE BUSINESS OF MUNICIPAL COURT PRACTICE KV15 MIN
Kenneth A. Vercammen, Esq.
PRE-TRIAL PHASE Jacob P. Davidson, Esq. & Joshua H. Reinitz, Esq. 20 MIN
Client Meetings/Intake PL
Online dispute resolution & Plea by Mail
Discovery Process
How is Discovery Obtained
Types of Requests
What do I want/don’t want
Holup/Sanctions
Unique Discovery Items
Lab Reports
Audio/Video
Officer’s Notes
Adam Herbst General info:
Even courts that used to be familiar have new procedures and many of them are different from one another. (I know that you know all this but it helps me to write it out)
1. Some courts require a separate request for virtual court form.
2. Some courts require the phone number and email address for the client on the LOR.
Getting Zoom information
1. Some courts include the zoom information on their website (Jersey City).
2. Some courts put the zoom information on the court notice (Watchung).
3. Some courts email the zoom information well in advance (Newark).
4. Some courts email the zoom information a few days ahead of time (Hoboken).
5. Some courts don't use Zoom but use Teams (Union in Hunterdon County)
On the day of:
1. Some courts have you work out the plea ahead of time with the prosecutor (Upper Saddle River, one of Judge Norton's courts, does this).
2. Some put the attorneys in a breakout room together and everyone hears the colloquy with the prosecutor (many)
3. Some put the attorneys in a breakout room together and then put the attorneys one by one in a breakout room with the prosecutor (Clifton)
after a deal is made
1. Some courts put the attorney and defendant singularly in front of the judge (Jersey City and Clifton)
2. Others (most) put the attorney and defendant in the virtual courtroom proper and then calls defendants up one by one.
Meeting with Prosecutor Moshood Muftau, Deputy County Counsel
HOW NOT TO ANGER THE PROSECUTOR
Prosecutor Perspective
Framing Case Setting Expectations
Unfamiliar Courtrooms/Prosecutors/Judges
Motion Practice
When to File
Briefing vs Oral
Suppression Motions
Use of Expert Witnesses: Peter Lederman
IN COURT PRACTICES
Hon. Harry D. Norton Jr., J.M.C.
How not to annoy the staff and court
Plea Agreements
What is permissible
What is not
How do different vicinages handle cases
Civil Reservations
What if you client is a NY driver Kevin McKernan, Esq.
