Municipal Court Judge

City of Arlington•West Windsor Township, NJ

4d•$93,889 - $117,361

About The Position

The Municipal Court Judge serves under the nominal direction of the City Council, with direct input from the Presiding Judge. The judge presides over bench and jury trials, motions dockets, and other hearings within the municipal court’s jurisdiction; reviews and signs warrants; serves as an on-call magistrate during weekends and after work hours; and performs other judicial and administrative duties. The position directly supervises six judicial staff and directly or indirectly supervises other court staff, including clerks and bailiffs. The judge handles cases involving Class C misdemeanors, city ordinances, traffic violations, and other matters appropriately tried in Municipal Court. The role also includes juvenile, domestic violence, and dangerous-animal hearings; reviewing and potentially issuing warrants; arraigning prisoners, setting bonds, imposing fines, and issuing magistrate warnings; and reviewing cases with defendants and attorneys. The judge maintains records required by the State of Texas, administers juvenile warnings, and reviews and processes pleadings, orders, and judgments daily. Additional duties include making indigency determinations and issuing emergency protective orders in domestic violence cases. The position requires on-call magistrate service several days each month, including weekends and after hours. Residency within Tarrant County during tenure of office is mandatory.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree.
Three years of experience practicing law in Texas.
A license to practice law in Texas, currently in good standing.
U.S. and Texas citizenship.
Valid Texas Class C Operator’s License.
Knowledge of office and administrative practices and procedures.
Knowledge of Texas Motor Vehicle Laws, the Texas Penal Code, the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the State and Federal Constitutions, and the Judicial Code of Conduct, sufficient to apply municipal, state, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law.
Skill using PC software, including current Microsoft 365 applications.
Professional and tactful oral and written communication with city employees and the public.
Organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to analyze and apply legal principles and precedents to local government problems.
Ability to develop alternative solutions, evaluate courses of action, make appropriate decisions, and counsel or guide individuals.
Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment using knowledge of organizational policies.
Ability to work independently under general instructions.
Ability to prioritize deadlines and tasks and learn new systems and procedures quickly.
Ability to plan, organize, monitor, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to accomplish unit objectives.
Ability to understand mathematical calculations involving fractions, percentages, and decimals.
Ability to work a set schedule that includes weekends and after-hours on-call duties.
Ability to perform physical activities including filing, pulling, seeing, sorting, squatting, standing, stooping, twisting, typing, walking, and writing.
Ability to operate office equipment including a PC, telephone, calculator, scanner, and copier.
Residency within Tarrant County during tenure of office.
Successful completion of a criminal background check and CJIS background check.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience in a judicial or local government capacity.
Residence within the city is preferred to support community engagement and timely response needs, but is not a condition of employment.
Bilingual proficiency is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Preside over bench and jury trials and render judgments in Class C misdemeanor, city ordinance, traffic violation, and other appropriate municipal court cases.
Preside over Municipal Court hearings, including juvenile, domestic violence, and dangerous-animal hearings.
Review and potentially issue search, arrest, inspection, and mental warrants.
Arraign prisoners, set bonds, impose fines, and issue magistrate warnings.
Review cases with defendants and attorneys.
Maintain court records, including mental and probable-cause warrants, as required by the State of Texas.
Administer juvenile warnings.
Review and process case pleadings, orders, and judgments daily.
Serve on call for magistrate duties several days each month, including weekends and after hours.
Directly supervise six judicial staff and directly and indirectly supervise other court staff, including clerks and bailiffs.
Make indigency determinations.
Issue emergency protective orders in domestic violence cases.