Ringwood Municipal Court
Municipal Court Judge: Mario A. Batelli, J.M.C.
Municipal Prosecutor: Patricia D. Qualey, Esq.
Public Defender: William Marotta, Esq.
Court Administrator: Gianna DiStasi
Telephone: (973) 962-6146
Facsimile: (973) 962-6018
Hours of Operation:
Monday 9:00am - 4:00pm (Closed 12:30pm - 1:30pm)
Tuesday 9:00am - 4:00pm (Closed 12:30pm - 1:30pm)
Wednesday 9:00am - 4:00pm (Closed 12:30pm - 1:30pm)
Thursday 9:00am - 4:00pm (Closed 12:30pm - 1:30pm)
Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm (Closed 12:30pm - 1:30pm)
Court will be conducted on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at 5:00 pm. We are currently conducting 1 in person session a month and 2 virtual sessions a month.
Payments to the court can be made online at www.NJMCDIRECT.com. Payments may also be left in the drop box outside of Borough Hall or by mail. Please include your Ticket # or Complaint # with your payment. If you would like a receipt, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The operations of the Municipal Court continue to expand to aid and protect residents, property and the way of life of which has become characteristic of our community.
Notice to Defendants:
The safety of our community is of utmost importance to the Borough of Ringwood and the Ringwood Municipal Court. Given the ongoing impact of COVID-19, the Borough will follow the guidelines set forth in the Omnibus Orders of Chief Justice Rabner, as well as, Governor Murphy and Borough Administration.
Notification of Rights:
If you were to attend court in person, the Judge would advise you of your rights as a defendant in the municipal courts. Fortunately, these rights are available online and you are encouraged to take a few minutes to view the video before choosing an option below.
Municipal Court Opening Statement
Municipal Court Opening
Statement (Spanish)
Public Defender Services are available if you are indigent and wish to be represented by counsel. Please complete the “Public Defender Form” and return it to the court here. The Judge will review the information at your next court hearing and you will be advised if you qualify for the Public Defender services. Please be aware that to qualify your matter must involve a sentence of magnitude, which means you would face a loss of your driver’s license, substantial fines and/or a jail sentence.
The Presumptive Mediation Program is a court-approved process in which a trained neutral person, called a mediator, encourages and facilitates the resolution of a dispute between two or more parties. A mediation session is informal and non-adversarial; its objective is to help the disputing parties reach a mutually acceptable and voluntary agreement. To begin this process, call (973) 962-6146.
Private Citizen Complaints are taken during court office operating hours. Please call (973) 962-6146 to schedule an appointment.
Plea by Mail is available for many cases due to a Relaxation of Court Rule during COVID-19. The Prosecutor will try to reach out to defendants who may be eligible to resolve their case this way. Please complete the form and return it to the court by the date specified on the top of the form. The Judge will then review your plea, as well as, any documents submitted in your defense. You will be notified by mail of the outcome.
If you wish to submit a "Plea by Mail" electronically, please complete and sign the attached form, and email it back to the court at court@ringwoodnj.net.
Plea Agreement with the Prosecutor may be available for certain offenses. Please visit www.njmcdirect.com. Complete the prompts including the Court ID (1611), Prefix, and then ticket number(s) to see if your case is eligible. Upon eligibility, choose option 2 “Dispute Case” to start the plea process through the Online Resolution System. Your case will then be reviewed by the Municipal Prosecutor to determine if a plea to a lesser charge or one that would result in a lesser fine and/or a reduction or no points, can be made. Please be advised that all plea agreements are subject to the approval by the court.
|