NJ A2979

Authorizes any county in New Jersey to establish a county-municipal court with jurisdiction over all matters typically handled by municipal courts, plus pretrial release and detention hearings referred by the Assignment Judge.

Requires all municipalities within a county that establishes such a court to agree by ordinance within two years to have violations heard there; municipalities that fail to agree will have violations ordered to the county-municipal court and be responsible for administrative costs.

County-municipal court judges serve fixed five-year terms with a maximum of three consecutive terms, compared to the standard three-year terms for other municipal court judges.

Requires county-municipal courts to be located in the same facility as the Superior Court's Law Division and Family Part, and allows court operations to be staffed by Superior Court employees rather than separate county employees.

Designates the county prosecutor as the municipal prosecutor for all offenses in county-municipal courts, rather than a separately appointed municipal prosecutor.