Mercer County Superior Court Case Search

In Mercer County, the Clerk of Court's Office generates and maintains court records from pre-trial to sentencing. These documents comprise formal charges and pleas, information exchange between parties regarding evidence presentation, witness testimonies, and exhibits documented during court proceedings. Interested persons usually seek Superior Court records when conducting court trial research, monitoring case status, and conducting background checks for employment or housing.

What Kinds of Cases Are Heard in the Mercer Superior Court?

Like other parts of New Jersey, the Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases in Mercer County. However, the court usually handles cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. In Mercer County, the Superior Court comprises divisions based on case types: civil, criminal, family, chancery, and probate.

The Civil Division of the Superior Court hears civil cases where the amount in contention is more than $20,000. At the same time, the Special Civil Part of the Civil Division handles amounts in contention less than $5,000 (small claims) and sums between $5,000 and $20,000.

The General Equity Division (no monetary damages claim) of the Superior Court hears non-jury cases concerning labor issues, foreclosures, trade secrets, and other disagreements where court relief, often in the form of restraining orders, is sought on an emergency basis.

Mercer County Superior Court

In Mercer County, the Superior Court is a first-instance trial court where civil and criminal cases are initially filed and heard. It has several divisions where judges handle disputes, hearings, and evidence presentation.

Although the Superior Court has original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, it typically handles cases beyond other courts' jurisdiction.

The Mercer County Superior Court is pivotal to the county's justice administration. Besides being the court where justice begins, the court ensures that laws are equitably applied and disagreements resolved according to established legal principles. Consequently, the court provides residents an accessible avenue to address their grievances, thereby protecting their rights and the rule of law.

The contact and locational details of the Mercer County Superior Court are as follows:

Mercer County Superior Court
Mercer County Civil Courthouse
175 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08650
Phone: (609) 571-4200

Mercer County Superior Court
Mercer County Criminal Courthouse
400 South Warren Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: (609) 571-4200

Mercer County Case Lookup

Interested parties seeking to perform a county-wide search of Mercer court records may use the following options: online, walk-in, and mail-in.

Online Searches

Using the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) portal, users may access civil division (including general equity records), special civil part, criminal, family, municipal, and tax court records. However, confidential records, juvenile delinquency records, expunged records, family case records, and more are unavailable through the platform.

To look up court records online, interested persons must visit the New Jersey Courts site to download the Records Request Form for free. They must complete the form, including case numbers, dates, and the parties' names, and record description. Under the request processing location section, the document must specify the county, division, and applicable records custodian.

First-time users must register for an account on JEDS while existing users use their login details to submit the completed form.

Copying court records costs $0.05 per page and $15.00 per certified document, payable with credit cards.

Walk-in Requests

Inquirers may submit a request in person at the Mercer County Clerk of Court's Office or other relevant record keepers between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

When searching for Mercer County court records, requesters must provide the case number, names of the parties involved, or the type of case. They are also expected to show a valid government-issued photo ID for identification purposes.

Plain (letter-sized) paper copies of court records cost $0.05 per page, while certified ones attract a charge of $2.50 per page. Requesters may pay copying fees using checks, money orders or cash.

Mail-in Requests

Searchers seeking Mercer County court records must mail in a completed application form, the relevant fees, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a copy of their state-issued ID to:

Superior Court Clerk's Office
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
P.O. Box 971
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0971

The application must include the requester's personal and contact details and an adequate description of the requested record, including any case numbers, dates, and names of individuals involved. Plain (letter-sized) copies of court records cost $0.05 per page, while certified paper copies cost $15.00 per document. Checks and money orders payable to the "Treasurer-State of New Jersey" are acceptable payment methods.

Mercer Superior Court Case Search by Name

Online Searches: Individuals may submit a name-based request for Mercer County Superior Court records via the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) portal.

To begin, download and save the request form on a computer. Complete the form and fill out all sections, including requester identification, record request processing location, case identification section, record requested by division, and copy fees. To submit the form, requesters must register on JEDS as first-time users or log in as existing users. Click on "Submit Completed Form" to upload the saved form.

The record custodian will provide the requested records via the email address stated on the form.

In-Person Searches: Those possessing a party name or case number may request a name-based search of Mercer County Superior Court records by visiting the Clerk of Court's Office.

Mail Requests: Information searchers may mail a records request form stating the parties' names (preferably complete names), a case number, and other requirements (e.g., a copy of a photo ID and a self-stamped envelope) to the Superior Court Clerk's Office (SCCO).

Mercer Superior Court Docket Search

A court docket is an extensive calendar that documents significant occurrences during a court process. It often includes the case number, parties, hearing dates, decisions, judgments, court orders, trial dates, and verdicts.

Court dockets benefit court staff, parties in a legal proceeding, judges, and the general public. They help them track file motions and due dates, impending trial dates and hearings, and parties' adherence to court directives.

To search for court dockets through official sites, log on to the New Jersey eCourts portal to search by docket number or party name. Select the Case County and Civil Part (L) from the Docket Type drop-down list to search using the docket number. Enter the case's Docket Number and two-digit Docket Year, and click the search button to view results.

Lookup Mercer County Superior Court Online

Requesters seeking Mercer County Superior Court records may access court filings and case summaries via the Judiciary Electronic Submissions portal. They may also visit or send a mail-in request for copies of court records to the Mercer County Clerk of Courts Office. Alternatively, third-party databases like NewJerseycourtrecords.us may provide easy-to-use interfaces for locating Superior Court records. Information searchers may obtain specific case details by entering information like case numbers and party names from the confines of their residential quarters. Browsing these sites enables searchers to view and download court records easily. However, record seekers should note that such third-party databases operate independently of government bodies. As a result, there is no guarantee that records on these platforms will be available or accurate.

Supreme Court vs. Superior Court

The State Supreme Court and the New Jersey Superior Court are part of the state's unified court system in New Jersey. The Governor appoints Judges in both courts (with Senate confirmation).

The New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division is the state's intermediate appellate court. Decisions from lower courts are appealed to the New Jersey Appellate Division before being heard by the Supreme Court.

In contrast, the Supreme Court is the highest court in the state. It has the final say on all cases in the state court system, including interpreting state laws under the state constitution. The Supreme Court also prescribes and amends court rules and regulates law practices.

The United States Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. The Supreme Court may review New Jersey Supreme Court rulings if they involve constitutional matters or disputes related to federal law.