News Release
For Release: January 3, 2011
Contact: Frank Baraff 914-469-3775

Chief Judge Eric Pennington resigns from Orange Municipal Court.  Mayor Hawkins invites residents to apply for vacancy and appoints task force to overhaul Court.

Judge Eric Pennington is resigning effective January 7th after ten years as a judge of the Orange Municipal Court.  In his letter of resignation, Judge Pennington cited his decision to pursue other opportunities. Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. announced that the vacancy will be filled in an open process under Orange’s Call to Service Initiative.  The Mayor also announced the appointment of a Municipal Court Task Force to review and improve the Court as well as to assist him in choosing a successor to Judge Pennington.

Statement by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.

“I want to thank and congratulate Judge Pennington for his distinguished service on the Orange Municipal Court and for his continuing involvement in the Orange community.

In filling the vacancy, I want to choose from among the most dedicated, best-informed, and highly experienced Orange citizens. We are conducting an open appointments process so that all qualified attorneys may apply. I invite interested Orange residents to apply for this position by Friday, January 14th, the deadline for receiving applications.

I am appointing a Task Force to assist me in choosing a successor to Judge Pennington, to review the operation of our Municipal Court and to suggest improvements. I am asking the Task Force to examine such issues as: adequacy and fairness of sentencing, more cost-efficient use of police and court personnel, potential cost savings, generation of additional revenues, need for additional judge(s), court security, and the physical condition of the Justice Center.

At a time when Orange is cutting back spending across the board, it is important to ensure that our Court is generating all potential revenues and operating efficiently.

In order for a smaller police force to protect citizens from crime, it is important to review the sentencing process to ensure that police do not have to keep re-arresting the same individuals. We need to ensure strict, fair sentencing that will not release serious and repeat offenders with only token sentences.

In addition to myself, the members of the Municipal Court Task Force will include Police Director John Rappaport, City Attorney Marvin Braker and Business Administrator John Mason.

Qualifications and Salary for Municipal Court Judge

Attorneys who are New Jersey residents and have practiced law for at least five years may be appointed to three year terms as Municipal Court Judges by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the council. Municipal Court Judges do not have tenure and are not subject to a mandatory retirement age, characteristics which distinguish them from other Judges in the Judiciary. The majority of the State's Municipal Court Judges serve only part-time and, as a result, are able to maintain private law practices, subject to the Rules of Court. The salary of the position is (add number)

If you are interested in applying for the vacancy, please mail a resume and statement of your goals for the Municipal Court to Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, City Hall, 29 North Day Street, Orange, NJ 07050 or email your resume and statement to my secretary Stacey Murphy at smurphy@ci.orange.nj.us.”

About the Orange Municipal Court

The Municipal Court has jurisdiction over cases within Orange, including violations of municipal ordinances, violations of motor vehicle and traffic laws, disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and other non-indictable offenses except where exclusive jurisdiction is given to the Superior Court.  Cases that are more serious are turned over to the Essex County Prosecutor in Newark. 

The Municipal Court has trial jurisdiction over those offenses enumerated under N.J.S.A., where the necessary waivers have been executed.  This means the Court may try these offenses without a jury and render a verdict.  Although the Court does not have trial jurisdiction over indictable offenses-crimes, for which the defendant is entitled to indictment and by trial by jury, the Court does possess jurisdiction over preliminary proceedings, which follow arrest on an indictable offense.