First NJ Court Appearance

Your first NJ court appearance is a necessary formality. You should not be nervous. The purpose of a first court appearance is simple. By showing up to court, you are basically informing the judge that you are aware of your traffic tickets or that you know about your criminal charges.  Think of your first court appearance as a way of checking in. When you show up to your first NJ court appearance, the judge will check your name off his list & give you credit for showing up. When you do this, you avoid getting a bench warrant.

Municipal court judges are very kind & patient. They will explain the criminal charges or tickets you have & inform you of your right to have legal representation. If you do not have an attorney on your first NJ court appearance, the judge will give you 15 or 30 days to hire one. You not be asked about your case or questioned in any way. There is a process & judges are there to make sure that your rights are protected.

The most important thing to remember about the your first court appearance is that you must appear. By showing up for court, you are showing respect for the legal process & demonstrating to the court that you take your legal case seriously.

Preparing for your first NJ court appearance:

Before going to court, take the time to review a few things.

• Find the court address. You want to be on time, and the court may or may not have a parking lot. If you have to park on the street, be prepared to walk a few blocks.
• Dress appropriately. (more below)
• Be prepared to go through security. 
• Take all of your paperwork with you
• Take a form of identification
• You do not need to take an interpreter. The court will provide one in any language.

It is best to arrive early to court. Always expect that a line of people will be waiting to go through security. Do not bring any weapons or illegal drugs to court. If you do, the police will arrest you & you will face new charges.

Regarding Proper Attire

You should dress appropriately for the first NJ court appearance. You do not have to wear a suit or fancy dress, but remember what they say about first impressions.

Everything In Court Is Recorded

There are tiny microphones everywhere. Everything that is said will be recorded. Court sessions are recorded in the event that you wish to appeal the court’s decision. Recordings exist to protect everyone involved in a court proceeding. It’s the best way to avoid misunderstandings & confusion about how your case unfolded.

So be careful about what you say while you are sitting in court. There’s a good chance that a microphone is picking up every word.

It’s My First NJ Court Appearance, Can I Take Friends or Family?

Yes. They may sit in the gallery. They should be prepared to sit and wait until your case is called. They cannot read, eat, or drink anything while in the courtroom. And when the judge takes the bench, they must be silent.

Can I Miss My First NJ Court Appearance?

If you miss your first court date, the judge may issue a warrant for your arrest. In addition, your file will receive a failure to appear (FTA) notation & the court can assess an additional fine. Missing your first NJ court appearance is never a good idea.

If you retained an attorney to represent you, then you can ask your attorney to file an adjournment request. The court will consider your adjournment request & most judges grant these requests. However, adjournment requests should never be abused. Courts keep track of how many adjournment requests a defendant makes & will deny these requests if made excessively.

Of course, there are exceptional circumstances that are out of everyone’s control. If you are in a car accident, or sick, or hospitalized, it is understandable that you would miss your first NJ court appearance. However, prepare to provide evidence of your exceptional circumstance. The court will ask you for it.

If you missed your first NJ court appearance and the judge issued a bench warrant, contact us so that we can help you get it removed. One of our Jersey City clients faced simple assault charges in Hudson county and missed his first three court dates. The judge issued a bench warrant for our client & set a high bail. This meant that if our client got arrested, he would have to post bail to get released. After retaining us, we filed a motion to lift the bench warrant and brought our client to court. We successfully admitted our client into the conditional dismissal program. He avoided jail & getting a criminal record.

Do I Be Questioned At My First NJ Court Appearance?

If you have an attorney, your attorney will speak on your behalf. If you do not have an attorney, the court will ask you if you intend to hire an attorney. The judge will not ask you about your case or any legal defenses that you intend to rely on. The first appearance is not the time for you to tell your side of the story. The resolution of your case is a long process. If you are not represented by a lawyer, it is better to plead not guilty and request time to hire an attorney.