The 2026 Judicial Authority Guide
Navigating the Municipal Court Systems of Hudson and Middlesex Counties
Hon. Christine M. Heitmann
Presiding Judge of Municipal Courts | Middlesex County (Vicinage 8)
Biographical Profile
Judge Christine M. Heitmann serves as the highest-ranking municipal authority in Middlesex County. Designated by the New Jersey Supreme Court as the Presiding Judge, she oversees 25 separate municipal courts. A graduate of the New England School of Law, her career began in the trenches of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. This background gives her a unique “prosecutorial-administrative” lens, allowing her to balance the efficiency of the state with the rights of the individual. By 2026, she has become the primary architect of the “Middlesex Model” for drug court diversion, focusing on rehabilitation over incarceration for non-violent offenders.
Crimes Often Before the Court
Under her supervisory watch, the Middlesex courts frequently handle high-volume interstate traffic offenses (due to the NJ Turnpike), Possession of CDS (Controlled Dangerous Substances), and Shoplifting—particularly in retail hubs like Woodbridge and Edison. She is a noted expert in the evolution of New Jersey’s cannabis laws as they relate to “Under the Influence” (DUI) charges.
Hon. Ramy A. Eid
Chief Judge | Jersey City Municipal Court
Biographical Profile
Judge Ramy A. Eid leads the busiest municipal court in New Jersey. Since his landmark appointment in 2014, Judge Eid has transformed the Jersey City Municipal Court into a digital-first operation. With a J.D. from Seton Hall and an M.P.A. from Columbia University, his approach is deeply rooted in public policy. His previous experience as a Deputy Attorney General and a member of the Obama transition team provides him with a sophisticated understanding of how local law enforcement intersects with federal civil rights standards.
Crimes Often Before the Court
Jersey City’s docket is dominated by City Ordinance violations, Simple Assault, and Quality of Life offenses. As Chief Judge, Eid frequently handles complex landlord-tenant disputes that cross into the municipal criminal realm and high-profile domestic violence “disorderly persons” offenses.
Hon. Karen R. Boylan
Presiding Judge of Municipal Courts | Hudson County (Vicinage 6)
Biographical Profile
Judge Karen Boylan is the administrative powerhouse of Hudson County. Appointed in 2022 to oversee the vicinage, she is a Jersey City native who understands the urban landscape of the “Gold Coast.” Her 13 years at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office taught her the mechanics of case backlog—a skill she has used to slash wait times in North Bergen and Union City. By 2026, she has established Hudson County as a leader in “Straight to Treatment” programs, providing immediate addiction services at the municipal level.
Crimes Often Before the Court
The Hudson Vicinage sees a massive amount of “Port Authority” related crimes, including toll evasion, commercial vehicle violations, and interstate drug transit cases originating from the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels.
Hon. Emery Z. Toth
Chief Judge | Edison Municipal Court
Biographical Profile
Judge Emery Z. Toth is the “Dean of the Municipal Bench” in Middlesex County. With nearly three decades of judicial experience by 2026, Toth has sat in almost every major court in the county. A graduate of Ohio Northern University College of Law, he is the state’s preeminent expert on DWI/DUI legislation. His lectures to the New Jersey State Bar are legendary, and he has shaped much of the modern case law regarding field sobriety testing and Alcotest admissibility.
Crimes Often Before the Court
Edison is a transportation and commerce hub. Judge Toth’s court handles a high volume of DWI, Refusal to Submit to Breath Samples, and complex Shoplifting cases involving the Menlo Park Mall and surrounding retail corridors.
Hon. Kevin H. Morse
Chief Judge | Woodbridge Municipal Court
Biographical Profile
Judge Kevin Morse leads the Woodbridge Municipal Court, a jurisdiction that serves as the “Crossroads of New Jersey.” A Seton Hall Law graduate (1990), Morse balances his role as Chief Judge with a distinguished career in private civil litigation. This dual perspective allows him to see the “civil consequences” of criminal acts, often considering how a municipal conviction might impact a defendant’s future employment or professional licensing.
Crimes Often Before the Court
Due to the intersection of the GSP and NJ Turnpike, Woodbridge handles an immense volume of speeding and reckless driving offenses. Additionally, the court sees frequent “Disorderly Persons” offenses originating from the Woodbridge Center Mall and local hospitality industry incidents.
Hon. Cheryl Scott Cashman
Chief Judge | Bayonne Municipal Court
Biographical Profile
Judge Cheryl Scott Cashman is a cornerstone of the Bayonne legal community. With over four decades of experience since her graduation from Seton Hall in 1983, she brings a “neighborhood judge” feel to a city that is rapidly modernizing. Her extensive background in family law and real estate gives her a profound understanding of the domestic and property-based disputes that often spill over into municipal court.
Crimes Often Before the Court
Bayonne’s unique geography leads to many maritime-adjacent transport violations, Neighborhood Disputes (Noise/Harassment), and “Driving While Suspended” cases. She also oversees many cases involving the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail violations.
Hon. Benjamin B. Choi
Presiding Judge | Bergen & Hudson Influence
Biographical Profile
Though recently elevated to Presiding Judge of Bergen County (effective 2026), Judge Benjamin Choi remains a legendary figure in the Hudson/Bergen corridor. As the former Chief Judge of Hoboken, he was the first Asian American to hold that post. A U.S. Army Veteran (Infantry/JAG) and Airborne paratrooper, Judge Choi brings a “military precision” to the bench. His background as a municipal prosecutor in over a dozen towns makes him one of the most well-rounded jurists in the state.
Crimes Often Before the Court
In his Hudson/Hoboken tenure, Choi was the final word on “Nightlife Crimes”—Disorderly Conduct, Obstruction of Justice, and complex DWI cases involving the late-night crowds. His rulings on the “Body Worn Camera” (BWC) evidence standards have become benchmarks for other municipal judges.