Municipal Court

2026 Court Calendar

Zoom Meetings

For Litigants and others with information how to join a Zoom Meeting.

Judiciary Mission Statement

We are an independent branch of government constitutionally entrusted with the fair and just resolution of disputes in order to preserve the rule of law and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of the United States and this State.

Required to accomplish our mission are four paramount values representing the core of what we stand for as an organization:
           Independence        Integrity         Fairness        Quality Service

Municipal Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, having responsibility for motor vehicle and parking tickets, minor criminal-type offenses, municipal ordinances offenses and other offenses.

Interpreters

Please note that a certified Spanish interpreter is available at all of our court sessions. If you require another language, please call the court office or email us at courts@hawthornenj.org  and let the staff know your preferred language before your court date so we can have a certified interpreter available for your session.

Opening Statement for Municipal Courts in New Jersey

For Defendants. Click on link to watch. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_zJg-XLde0&t=28s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROn9vAILINQ   

Payment & Guilty Plea

You may plead guilty and pay the penalty, if the check box "Court Appearance Required" has not been checked on the front side. The more frequently charged payable offenses and penalties are listed through a link to the left of this screen. You may also either sign on to New Jersey Municipal Courts to determine if the offense is payable and the amount of the penalty or telephone the court. If you wish to pay the penalty, bring or mail your ticket, together with payment in the amount of the penalty, to the court at the address indicated below prior to the court date displayed on the front of this ticket. For your convenience, we have a drop box in the parking lot outside the Borough. Please do not leave cash in the drop box.

Payments by mail are to be by check or money order made payable to the Hawthorne Municipal Court. Do not send cash. Please print the ticket number on the front of the check or money order. If payment is received by the court after your court date, you may be assessed additional penalties. A receipt will be sent to you only if your payment is accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.