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Municipal Court
Public Safety Complex at 248 Hamilton Avenue, Second floor
Municipal Court is held Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.
Administrative
Information
Municipal Judge: Joseph Jones
Court Administrator: Susan Paul
2006 Public Defender: Thomas Mason
Alternate Public Defender: Mark Musella
2006 Prosecutor:
Alternate Prosecutor: Thomas Finn
Alternate Prosecutor: Samuel Presti
New Jersey Municipal Courts Direct
Pay traffic tickets online · Get traffic ticket information
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/atswep/njmcdirectmain
New Jersey Judiciary: http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/
Public Safety Complex Dedication
A dedication of the Public Safety Complex at
248 Hamilton Avenue was conducted by the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights Mayor and
Council on December 20, 2003 at 2 p.m. The Public Safety Building will house the
Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, Fire Department and Municipal Court.
[Photos
and story]
Mason's Cornerstone
Ceremony
for the the new Public Safety Building (Police, Fire & Court) was held at
Hamilton Ave.,
Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 p.m. Photos [Group 1][Group 2]
Chief's Tour of the new
Public Safety Building
On November 11, 2003, Fire Chief Robert Thomasey and Police Chief Michael
Colaneri gave us a tour of their new Public Safety Building. This facility will
house the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, Fire Department and Municipal Court. [Group 1][Group 2]
Janice Gatto Appointed
Municipal Judge
Borough resident Janice Gatto was appointed
Municipal Court Judge at a special meeting of the Mayor and Council on December 26, 2002.
The appointment is for a three year term. Judge Gatto is the first woman to
become Municipal Judge in Hasbrouck Heights. [Story]
Municipal Court Judge Harry
H. Chandless Jr. was sworn in for another 3 year term by
Superior Court Judge Sybil R. Moses at the Bergen County Justice Center on January 3,
2000.
Judge Chandless is the longest sitting Municipal Judge in the State of New Jersey.
See Judge Chandless Retires
Mayor & Council Proclamation for Judge Chandless
MUNICIPAL COURT INFORMATION
September 21, 2000
Municipal Court is in session every Wednesday at 1 PM at the Masonic Hall building, 200
Division Avenue and Judge Harry H. Chandless, Jr. presides. Judge Chandless has been
Municipal Judge in Hasbrouck Heights for 34 years. Court is sometimes held on other days
if the court calendar is too large or for special cases such as DWI cases with expert
witnesses when the trial may be prolonged.
Any one is permitted to attend and observe Municipal Court sessions.
During an average week, Judge Chandless issues two Temporary Domestic Violence Restraining
Orders after taking sworn testimony from the complainants. The Judge may also perform
marriage ceremonies. The Judge is also frequently called by the Police Department to issue
Warrants and to set bail.
Judge Chandless also sits in other Municipal Courts if an emergency develops regarding
another Judge and may also be contacted by another municipality's Police regarding
Warrants or Bail in the absence of their Judge. The same arrangement pertains to the
Hasbrouck Heights Municipal Court.
During court sessions, Mark Musella and/or Thomas Mason act as Prosecutor; Fred Allen
is Public Defender. Susan Paul is Court Administrator, with Estelle Hackel as Deputy Court
Administrator.
Recent Developments:
The Court Administrator announced the Municipal Court Violations Schedule for all-night
parking has been amended: Fines mailed into the Violations Bureau as guilty pleas for
parking during 2AM through 6AM on Borough Streets have been raised to $20 from $15. All
other parking violations have also been raised to $20 for those that were $15 when guilty
pleas are made by mail instead of appearing in Court
A defendant may contest any case by appearing on the Court day after notifying the
Court Administrator 7 days before the hearing date so that witnesses can be notified. Or
the defendant may submit an Affidavit on certain cases, including parking cases, upon
giving up the right to appear. Check with the Court Administrator, 288-4004, as to type of
case permitted to plead by Affidavit.
Recently, the Court refused a motion to amend a speeding charge to a lesser charge against
a Lodi man and the defendant was granted a postponement to obtain an attorney. Judge
Chandless said that the this Court's policy was against amending speeding charges to
a"no point" charge, until there is a change of driving habits in town,
..."if they have to sit in Court all night to hear contested cases."
The Judge stated that the August 16th session marked the 34th year he has been Judge of
the Hasbrouck Heights Municipal Court. He said that the Court had always operated smoothly
and efficiently because of the fine Administrative personnel over the years and the
support given by the various Mayors and Councils, the police department and Borough
employees. " In all my years here as Judge, I can think of no incident that ever
occurred entering, inside or leaving the courtroom which caused any threat to or fear in
anyone. People are usually on their best behaviour when they come to court. " The
Supreme Court mandates that all courtrooms be open to the public during court sessions,
the Judge indicated, and recalls that Hasbrouck Heights Municipal Court sessions were
visited by grammar school classes brought by their teachers to observe at various times
over the years. He also recalled seeing many who had offices or meetings in the old
Municipal Building and who would stop in during some court sessions. He said that he
remembers Andy Feintuch frequently observing court sessions, even when Mr. Feintuch was in
a wheelchair. He thanked all who have helped to make our Municipal Court one to be proud
of.
New laws:
A law went into effect September 5, 2000, granting the defendant, charged with both
refusing to take a breathalyser test and driving under the influence (DWI), the right to
plea bargain by pleading guilty to DWI and having the refusal charge dismissed.
Previously, the six months revocation for refusal could not be dismissed and was added to
the six months revocation for DWI upon conviction of both charges. It also appears that
DWI and drug charges may now be plea-bargained, with the Municipal Judge's approval, which
Supreme Court Rules previously prohibited.
In July, 200, the NJ Legislature overturned the NJ Supreme Court Ruling prohibiting
amending moving motor vehicle charges to a charge which would have resulted in no points
against the defendant's record with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The new law permits
amending a point-producing charge, such as speeding or passing on the right, to a new
charge without points, created by the Legislature: "Unsafe Driving". (This is
different from "Careless Driving" which requires point assessment upon
conviction). The difference between those two offenses is difficult to see, except by the
result according to Judge Chandless.
This plea bargain would be on motion of the Prosecutor, usually with the police
officer's agreement. The final decision on a plea bargain rests with the Judge and can be
denied even if the Prosecutor and the defense agree. The purpose of the new law is to keep
Court calendars from bogging down with trials on every contested charge in the Municipal
Courts. ###################
Recent comments by Judge
Chandless:
As Judge of the Municipal Court of the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights, it is difficult to
add much more than was summed up in The Record editorial, which said Hasbrouck
Heights and its people are to be commended for their spirit, resiliency, and heart,
about the disasters that recently struck.
I thank all those of the Municipal Government, officials and employees, who have assisted
in keeping the Municipal Court functioning without scarcely missing a beat. I should point
out that Mayor Torre, the Borough Council, and Finance Official Michael Kronyak have lent
much support as well as the DPW head Bob Heck and workers and others in planning and
moving equipment.
This was needed to establish the present Municipal headquarters at 218 Boulevard where our
brand new Municipal Court terminals which record and store our records are now located and
where Violations Bureau fines are being routinely collected.
This cooperation was also needed to set up our Court for hearings at Gehrig Hall, Euclid
Masonic Lodge, 200 Divisions Avenue. It is not possible to name all those who have
directly contributed. It is, I believe, absolutely fitting to thank the local Masonic
Lodge #136, whose building houses Gehrig Hall, for the generous and immediate response to
provide the needed and appropriate place for Court proceedings without cost to the town or
taxpayer. It is in line with their stated purpose, To make good persons
better..
Their members, Otto Gehrig, who lived in Hasbrouck Heights for 40 years before retiring;
Gill Hunt, the Secretary; and Robert Searle, the liaison from the fraternity to the town,
who both still reside in town, as well as others, have given freely of their time. Time,
in this day in age, is one of our most valuable commodities.
I also want to commend my Acting Court Administrator, Susan Paul, and Deputy Court
Administrator Estelle Hackel for coping with this enormous rearrangement and additional
duties.
In addition, I want to commend the former Court Administrator, Teresa Vertino, who, past
her retirement date of January 1, has been helping the Acting Administrator. Thus far, the
Administrator has not received the promised help from Trenton; As Mayor Torres
slogan on the ribbons distributed at the January 1st reorganization meeting said,
Together--We Will. We will keep this town great.
Sincerely,
Hon. Harry H. Chandless, Jr. |
Judge Harry H.
Chandless Jr.
Harry H. Chandless Jr., is a well respected
member of the legal community with over 35 years of experience in the general practice of
law.
Mr. Chandless is a graduate of the Columbia College and Columbia Law School. He has served
on the bench as a Municipal Judge for over 32 years.
He is a member of the Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi, as well as numerous local, civic
organizations. He now specializes in Wills, Living Wills, Estates, and Power of Attorney.
He is a licensed NJ Attorney and Counsellor At
Law; a life member of the Bergen County Bar Association; past President of the Lions Club
and a member of the Elks, Euclid Lodge 136 F.& A.M., and the Municipal Judges
Association.
Harry H. Chandless Jr. web-site is: www.hchandlessjr.com
Here are a few links that you may find
interesting:
- NJ LawNet- http://www.njlawnet.com/
A great resource for anything dealing with NJ law and statutes.
- NY LawNet- http://www.nynylawnet.com/ A wonderful
resource for subjects dealing with NY law and statutes.
- The Law Engine- http://www.fastsearch.com/law/ An excellent
search engine for finding legal/law based information.
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