Judge strips Millville municipal court of it power; sends cases to Vineland
MILLVILLE - A state judge has stripped the local municipal court of its powers "until further notice."
Assignment Judge Benjamin Telsey said Vineland's municipal court is to step in for its Millville counterpart.
“This includes paying fines, signing complaints and any court date," Millville police said in a separate announcement at the department's Facebook page.
Municipal courts handle criminal complaints, ordinance violations, and traffic tickets, the police post noted.
DCR says review 'corroborated' claims New Jersey Division on Civil Rights sues Millville over alleged bias against Hispanics
Telsey’s order, which took effect Aug. 21, said the Millville court was "temporarily unable to conduct court sessions and provide related court services based on the lack of a municipal court judge and lack of sufficient court administration staff."
It also noted the city wants cases to be handled "in a manner to ensure continuity of services and to minimize any inconvenience to the public."
What happened to Millville Municipal Court?
Millville’s municipal court has been rocked by claims that defendants with Hispanic names were steered to courtroom sessions with an in-person translator, rather than virtual hearings with a remote translator.
The state Division on Civil Rights earlier this month sued the city over the allegations, saying its investigation “corroborated” claims first made publicly by a former municipal court judge, Jason Witcher, in December 2022.
The state division's lawsuit also challenged the credibility of some Millville court employees who were questioned for a previous review by AOC. That AOC’s 45-page report found no discriminatory behavior, but prompted changes to court operations.
In a statement issued in response to the civil rights lawsuit, Millville said it "takes very seriously allegations of discriminatory treatment in its municipal court or elsewhere in the city."
But it said the state Judiciary "has sole power to oversee the operations of the court."
Witcher has separately sued the state Administrative Office of the Courts, saying retaliation over his claims forced him to give up the Millville post on Aug. 1.
His replacement, Judge Steven Neder, submitted his resignation to Millville earlier this month.
A judiciary spokesman said Neder was suspended on Aug. 18 "as to all courts within the Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage effective immediately"
"We will have no further comment at this time," said the spokesman, Pete McAleer.
Vineland now handling Millville court
Telsey is the assignment judge for the vicinage that covers Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.
His "notice to the bar" directed that all communications about Millville cases should be directed to the Vineland court.
The Vineland court, at 736 East Landis Ave., can be contacted at 856-794-4214 or MunicipalCourt@Vinelandcity.org.
It has lobby hours from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and until 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
"If there are any changes to court dates, you will receive notice in the mail," Telsey's statement said.
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: jwalsh@cpsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Millville municipal court stripped of powers by New Jersey state judge
