Jersey City Municipal Court Information

Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated

Jersey City Municipal Court is at the Lewis S. McRae Justice Complex, 365 Summit Avenue. It hears traffic and parking tickets, DWI charges, city ordinance violations, and disorderly persons offenses arising in Jersey City. It’s one of the busiest municipal courts in New Jersey, with sessions every weekday and both in-person and virtual hearings. This guide covers the court’s location, hours, parking, virtual hearing rooms, adjournments, and what to expect. Our Jersey City criminal defense office is a short drive away. Call (201) 793-8018 for a free case review — we answer 24/7, and se habla español.

Hudson County · Court Code 0906

Jersey City Municipal Court

365 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306

Telephone: 201-209-6700

Get Directions → Official Court Information →

Court Staff & Contacts

Municipal Court Judges

Ramy A. Eid, Chief Judge
Paul Scalia, J.M.C.
Cynthia Jackson, J.M.C.
Kelly Austin, J.M.C.
Nadine Killebrew, J.M.C.
Armando Molina, J.M.C.

Court Administrator

Wendy Walker

Municipal Prosecutors

Vishnu Khemraj
Steven Hummell
Monica Cho
Gloria Oh
Sujey Sanchez
Ryan Spain
Graham Fleetwood

Municipal Public Defenders

Andrew Abrams
Jared Weiss

Court Telephone

201-209-6700

Court Calendar & Office Hours

Published Court Sessions
Monday-Friday. Follow your latest court notice for the specific time and appearance method.
Court Office Hours

Published court hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Information/payment window: Monday and Wednesday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Check the official court page and appearance instructions →

Your summons or latest court notice controls your date, time, courtroom and whether you attend in person or virtually.

Parking & Arrival

Parking for Jersey City Municipal Court is restrictly street parking. Free parking spots can often times be found on Summit Avenue or cross streets such as Vroom Street, Wayne Street and Mercer Street. There is a small paid parking lot at the corner of Summit Avenue and Academy Street that often has spots available if you are unable to find street parking

When to arrive: Allow approximately 20–30 minutes before any required in-person appearance for parking, security and check-in. This is practical planning advice, not a court-mandated arrival time.

Court is at the Lewis S. McRae Justice Complex, 365 Summit Avenue. The City publishes different call-center hours in different sections of its page; call ahead for telephone service. For virtual hearings, check the VH room number on your court notice.

Courthouse Map

This map shows the courthouse location. Use the directions link to plan your visit.

Before you go: Check the latest summons or court notice and the official municipal court page. Court personnel, calendars, hearing formats, office hours and parking arrangements can change.

Note: The Office of the Municipal Prosecutor is also located in this building in Suite 219. 

Court Payment Window Hours

If you need to post bail or pay fines in person, the payment windows (located on the first floor) operate on a slightly different schedule:

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

  • Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM

(For bail outside of these hours, on weekends, or on holidays, Cash Bail Only may be posted at the Hudson County Jail in Kearny).

Before You Go: Key Jersey City Court Details

  • Adjournments. Requests must be made in writing or in person at least three working days before your court date. Email Adjourn@jcnj.org with your name, phone number, address, ticket or complaint number, scheduled date, and the reason. An adjournment isn’t granted until the court confirms it.
  • Court hours vs. window hours. The court building stays open into the evening Monday through Thursday, but the payment and information windows close earlier, at 3:00 p.m. on most days (7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays). The call center answers Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
  • Posting bail. During weekday window hours, bail can be posted at the court. After hours, on weekends, and on holidays, cash bail only can be posted at the Hudson County Jail in Kearny.
  • Municipal prosecutor. The Office of the Municipal Prosecutor is in Suite 219 of the Justice Complex.
  • Interpreters. For a first appearance, submit the court’s interpreter request form in advance. Interpreters are free.

Virtual and In-Person Hearings

Your notice tells you whether your hearing is in person or virtual.

  • Virtual hearings use one of ten Zoom rooms, VH01 through VH10. Your notice lists your VH room number. Match it to the Meeting ID in the Zoom directory on the city’s municipal court page. Use your full name as your screen name, test your camera and microphone, and join early from a quiet room.
  • In-person hearings are at 365 Summit Avenue. Arrive 30–45 minutes early to park, clear security, and find your courtroom. Parking details are in the court information above.

What Cases Does Jersey City Municipal Court Handle?

Jersey City Municipal Court has limited jurisdiction. It hears:

  • Traffic and motor vehicle violations, such as speeding, careless and reckless driving, driving while suspended, and driving without insurance
  • DWI (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50) and refusal (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a)
  • Disorderly persons offenses, such as simple assault (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(a)), harassment (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4), disorderly conduct (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2), shoplifting under $200, and drug paraphernalia
  • City ordinance violations and parking tickets

It doesn’t hear indictable crimes. Charges like aggravated assault, most drug possession, and weapons offenses start with a complaint in Jersey City but are prosecuted in Hudson County Superior Court. Domestic violence restraining orders are handled separately in the Family Part. See our Jersey City domestic violence page.

What You Can Learn From Your Court Papers

Understanding Your Jersey City Municipal Court Summons

A Jersey City summons contains important information about the alleged offense including, the statute charged, the person or officer who issued the complaint, the location of court and when you are required to appear. The numbered areas below identify information worth carefully reviewing.

State of New Jersey
Municipal Court Summons
Illustrative Example — Not an Official Court Form
1 Municipal Court Jersey City Municipal Court Municipal Court Code: 0906
2 Summons / Complaint Number S-000000 Illustrative number
Defendant / Person Charged SAMPLE NAME Address and identifying information may appear elsewhere on the summons.
3 Complainant / Issuing Officer Officer / Complainant Name Police Department or Other Issuing Agency
4 Date of Violation 00 / 00 / 20XX
Time 00:00
Location Jersey City, NJ
Alleged Offense
Statute / Ordinance N.J.S.A. __________
Offense Description Alleged Violation
5 Court Date / Time 00 / 00 / 20XX 9:00 A.M.
6 Place of Appearance Jersey City Municipal Court 365 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Issuing Officer / Complainant
Date Issued
This graphic is an educational illustration designed to identify common types of information that may appear on New Jersey municipal court paperwork. It is not an official Judiciary form, and the layout of an actual summons may differ.

Key Information to Check

1

Court and Court Code

This identifies the municipality and court associated with the summons. For a case arising in Jersey City, look carefully at the court information printed on your paperwork.

2

Summons or Complaint Number

This number identifies the individual summons or complaint. It may be needed when communicating with the municipal court or reviewing court records.

3

Complainant or Issuing Officer

The summons may identify the police officer or other complainant who issued or signed the charge, along with the involved police agency.

4

Date, Time and Location

These fields identify when and where the alleged offense occurred. They can also help identify potentially relevant police reports, video or other evidence.

5

Court Date and Time

Your summons may contain an initial appearance date. A later notice from the court can change that date or the manner in which the appearance will occur.

6

Where to Appear

Review the court location and appearance instructions carefully. Some proceedings may be conducted in person while others may be scheduled remotely.

Jersey City Municipal Court

Municipal Court Code: 0906
365 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306

Important: Your actual summons and any later notice from Jersey City Municipal Court control your appearance date, time, location and whether the proceeding is scheduled in person or remotely. If a later court notice differs from the information originally printed on the summons, follow the current court notice or confirm the information directly with the court.

Keep your original summons with every later notice. If you have more than one ticket or complaint, track each number and court date separately. A change to one doesn’t change the others.

What to Expect on Your Court Date

  • Dress as you would for a job interview. No hats, shorts, or clothing with slogans.
  • Bring your notice, your ticket or complaint, photo ID, and any documents the court asked for, such as proof of insurance or registration.
  • Check in and listen for your name. Cases with attorneys are often called first, so unrepresented cases can take most of the session.
  • Silence your phone. Phone use is restricted in the courtroom.
  • Don’t discuss the facts of your case with the prosecutor or the officer without a lawyer.
  • Expect more than one date. A not-guilty plea usually leads to discovery, negotiations, and possibly a trial on a later date. Municipal court trials are decided by a judge, not a jury.

Paying or Contesting a Jersey City Ticket

If your ticket doesn’t say “court appearance required,” you can usually pay online at NJMCdirect.com or at the payment window. Paying is a guilty plea, so any points, MVC surcharges, and insurance increases still apply. If you want to contest the ticket, request a court date instead of paying, and ask whether it could be amended to a lower-point or no-point offense.

Curious how busy this court is? See the court’s filing statistics on our Jersey City criminal lawyer page.

Jersey City Criminal Defense Lawyer

William Proetta Criminal Law’s office is at 242 10th Street, Suite 103, Jersey City, a short drive from the Justice Complex. We handle cases in Jersey City Municipal Court and Hudson County Superior Court regularly, from first appearance through trial. When the facts support it, we pursue dismissals, downgrades, and diversion programs like conditional dismissal and PTI. Learn more about our Jersey City criminal defense practice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jersey City Municipal Court

Where is the Jersey City Municipal Court located?

The Jersey City Municipal Court is located inside the Lewis S. McRae Justice Complex in the Journal Square area. The official address is 365 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306.

What are the hours of operation for the Jersey City Municipal Court?

The court is generally open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM, and on Fridays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. If you need to post bail or pay fines in person, the payment windows have slightly different hours: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM on Tuesdays.

What types of cases does the Jersey City Municipal Court handle?

This municipal court has limited jurisdiction and handles traffic and motor vehicle violations, DUI/DWI offenses, disorderly persons offenses (misdemeanors like simple assault or shoplifting under $200), and municipal ordinance violations. It does not handle felony-level indictable offenses, which are transferred to the Hudson County Superior Court.

How do virtual court hearings work in Jersey City?

Many initial appearances and routine traffic matters are handled virtually via Zoom. If you are scheduled for a virtual hearing, your court notice will include a “VH Room Number” in the top right corner. You must use the Jersey City Municipal Court Zoom Directory on the city’s website to find the specific Meeting ID link that matches your VH Room.

Is there parking available at the Jersey City Municipal Court?

There is no dedicated free parking lot for defendants at the Justice Complex. Visitors must rely on metered street parking in Journal Square or nearby private parking garages, such as those located on Enos Place or Pavonia Avenue. It is highly recommended to arrive 30 to 45 minutes early to secure parking and get through courthouse security.

What happens if I miss my Jersey City court date?

The judge can issue a bench warrant for your arrest, and for traffic matters your license can be suspended. Call the court at (201) 209-6700 or a lawyer right away. The warrant can often be cleared and the case rescheduled.

Talk to a Jersey City Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

The earlier we get involved, the more options you have. Call (201) 793-8018 for a free, confidential case review. Available 24/7 — se habla español.