Order – Designation of Judge Brian K. Herman as Municipal Court Presiding Judge for the Camden Vicinage (Vicinage 4)

It is ORDERED that, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2B: 12-9, Municipal Court Judge Brian K. Herman is designated as the Municipal Court Presiding Judge for Vicinage 4 (Camden County), effective March 13, 2023 and until further Order; and

It is FURTHER ORDERED that under the direction of the Assignment Judge of the Camden Vicinage, Municipal Court Presiding Judge Herman will supervise the Vicinage' s Municipal Division and oversee all Municipal Courts in the Vicinage. As part of the Judiciary's management structure, Presiding Judge Herman and the Municipal Division Manager comprise the executive component of the Vicinage' s Municipal Division; and

It is FURTHER ORDERED that Municipal Court Presiding Judge Herman is hereby delegated authority, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2B: 12-9, to exercise the powers necessary to perform the following administrative duties in the Camden Vicinage:

1. Be responsible for the implementation and enforcement in the Municipal Courts of all administrative rules, policies, and directives of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice, the Administrative Director, and the Vicinage Assignment Judge;


2. Monitor compliance with the provisions of Rule 7:6-2(d), regulating the Municipal Court plea agreement process, including the proper downgrading of matters heard in the various Municipal Courts;


3. Provide mentoring services to both new and experienced Municipal Court judges;


4. Provide substantive and procedural training for Municipal Court judges on topics directed at improving the administration of justice, including but not limited to domestic violence, sentencing, search and seizure, plea agreements, bail procedures, evidence, administrative responsibilities, case management techniques (including those related to driving under the influence), and other topics as appropriate;


5. Coordinate and oversee the emergency availability of Municipal Court judges to handle bail, domestic violence, or other emergent matters within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court;


6. Perform in-court session visitations, with follow-up Municipal Court judge mentoring, as necessary, to ensure the uniform application of the highest standards of justice in processing each case brought before the court;


7. Monitor the uniformity and efficiency of case management in the Municipal Courts and identify methods for eliminating backlogs and efficiently processing all cases;


8. Monitor the annual Municipal Court budget process as to each of the Vicinage's Municipal Courts, both prior to and following submission to
   the Assignment Judge, to ensure that upon adoption of the budget, each Municipal Court will have sufficient resources to operate properly;


9. Manage the resolution of citizen, attorney, or other grievances concerning the operation or administration of the Municipal Courts in the vicinage;


10. Implement policies, procedures, and programs established by the Vicinage Assignment Judge;


11. Perform other management and supervisory duties when assigned by the Vicinage Assignment Judge; and

It is FURTHER ORDERED that Municipal Court Presiding Judge Herman is hereby delegated authority, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2B:12-9, to exercise the judicial powers necessary to preside over matters arising within the Camden Vicinage and to preside over other matters, within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Courts, when so designated by the Vicinage Assignment Judge in accordance with law and the Rules of Court, including but not limited to:

1. Coordinating coverage six days per week for centralized Municipal Court first appearances, arraignments, and initial bail reviews for defendants charged with non-indictable offenses where there are no companion indicatable matters, and centralized first appearances for all defendants arrested and in custody, as well as defendants who are state prisoner inmates with pending Municipal Court charges;


2. Coordinating coverage, as· needed, to support the vicinage's responsibility to preside over civil commitment hearings .. This includes coordinating the scheduling of initial involuntary inpatient civil commitments hearings, as well as involuntary inpatient and outpatient civil commitment review hearings;


3. Providing coverage for the centralized hearings for defendants who have failed to complete their intoxicated Driver Resource Center attendance, as required by N.J.S.A. 39:4-50;


4. Presiding as judge, when necessary, of a formalized vicinage first appearance court and conduct arraignments for cases that have been downgraded by the county prosecutor's office to offenses within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Courts.