Order - Designation of Judge Benjamin B. Choi as Bergen Vicinage Municipal Court Presiding Judge (effective December 27, 2025)

It is ORDERED that, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2B:12-9, Municipal Court Judge Benjamin B. Choi is designated as the Municipal Court Presiding Judge for Vicinage 2 (Bergen County), effective December 27, 2025 and until further Order; and

It is FURTHER ORDERED that, under the direction of the Assignment Judge of the Bergen Vicinage, Presiding Judge Choi will supervise the Vicinage’s Municipal Division and oversee all municipal courts within the Vicinage.  As a part of the Judiciary’s management structure, Presiding Judge Choi 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 Choi is hereby delegated authority, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2B:12-9, to exercise the powers necessary to perform the following administrative duties within the Bergen 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 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, Criminal Justice Reform, 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 domestic violence or other emergent matters within the jurisdiction of the municipal court;
6. Regularly 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 the efficient processing of 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 Choi 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 Bergen 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.