Municipal Court Representation
John C. Shamy Somerset NJ Lawyer
I have been appearing in municipal courts throughout New Jersey from 1972. I have extensive court experience since I was a municipal court prosecutor in Franklin Township and a substitute municipal court prosecutor in North Brunswick Township. I was also a municipal court public defender in Edison Township, Hillsborough Township, and an alternate public defender in Franklin Township. I have prosecuted and defended hundreds of municipal court cases since 1972. I have prosecuted and defended many cases involving drunk driving, drug possession, all disorderly persons violations. I have had good results for my clients with drunk driving violations when my office has used a drunk driving expert to assist in the defense. I was able to reduce their loss of their driving privileges to 3 months instead of 7 to 12 months.
Every municipal court case is different and past results may be considered, but the facts of each case and the current law for each case demand careful review by the attorney. Most municipal court cases end in plea bargains and not trials. A plea bargain is where the municipal court prosecutor and my office work out a compromise as to the violations/summons a client is charged with, and a possible reduction of violations, motor vehicle points, fines and possible jail time. A trial in municipal court will require more of an attorney’s time and attention, and will cost the
client more than a plea bargain representation. Each case must be reviewed to ascertain
whether the client wants to reduce his/her exposure to the violations and expense, and
the possibility of an acquittal of all or most of the summons/complaints with a trial.