This bill amends existing laws to allow for the early termination of terms for appointed municipal court positions, including judges, public defenders, and prosecutors, when two or more municipalities enter into agreements to establish joint or shared municipal courts. Specifically, it modifies N.J.S.2B:12-4 to permit the early termination of a municipal court judge's three-year term, and similarly allows for the early termination of a municipal public defender's one-year term and a municipal prosecutor's one-year term under the relevant sections of law. The amendments ensure that these positions can be adjusted to align with the new joint or shared court arrangements.

The bill emphasizes that the early termination of these terms is necessary to facilitate the effective sharing of services among municipalities. It provides clear guidelines for the appointment and reappointment processes, ensuring that the transition to joint municipal courts does not disrupt judicial services. The changes aim to streamline operations and enhance collaboration between municipalities while maintaining the integrity of the judicial system. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2B:24-4, 2B:25-4