Ridgefield NJ Lawyer — The Borough's Trial Firm Since 1976

If you live in Ridgefield, New Jersey — population 11,032, incorporated November 19, 1892, a 2.59-square-mile borough straddling Bergen Boulevard in southeast Bergen County — and you need a lawyer, Avery & Avery, Esqs. is the firm rooted in your borough. Our office is at 559 Bergen Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Ridgefield, NJ 07657, a short walk from the 604 Broad Avenue municipal building that houses Ridgefield Borough Hall, the Police Department, and the Ridgefield Municipal Court. Robert W. Avery, Esq. served as the borough’s Municipal Prosecutor and then as Judge of the Ridgefield Municipal Court for fifteen years (1986-2000), and went on to serve on the Ridgefield Borough Council (including as Council President). No other firm in our competitor roster has comparable continuous Ridgefield civic ties.

For a free first consultation, call (201) 943-2445.

Where Ridgefield Cases Are Heard

Ridgefield Municipal Court — 700 Shaler Boulevard

The Ridgefield Municipal Court sits at 700 Shaler Boulevard, Ridgefield, NJ 07657 (the borough’s municipal court is at Shaler Boulevard; Borough Hall is at 604 Broad Avenue — separate municipal buildings). Phone: (201) 943-7155. Fax: (201) 943-8932. The court hears Title 39 traffic violations, DWI under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50, disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons charges under Title 2C, local ordinance matters, and the rest of the Part VII docket (Rule 7).

Verified court personnel (per ridgefieldnj.gov, 2026-05-05):

• Judge: Hon. Crystal Calabrese, JMC
• Prosecutor: Michael Candelmo, Esq.
• Court Administrator: Jasna Gega
• Deputy Court Administrator: Susan Taffaro
• Violation Bureau Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

2026 Court Sessions (per the borough’s published calendar):

The NJ AG’s published session schedule lists Ridgefield Municipal Court sessions as 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month (court code 0249), which matches the borough calendar above. Routine traffic ticket review can also proceed without a court appearance through NJMC Direct (njmcdirect.com) for eligible Title 39 moving violations and via the borough’s Plea-by-Mail Affidavit program where the prosecutor recommends. Bail can be posted at the court office (2nd floor) during operational hours, and at the Police Department when the court office is closed.

Robert W. Avery presided here as Municipal Court Judge for fifteen years (1986-2000).

Bergen County Superior Court — Hackensack

Indictable charges arising in Ridgefield (third-degree and above) route to the Bergen County Justice Center, 10 Main Street, Hackensack — about a 12-minute drive on Route 4 East. Family Part divorces and restraining-order finals also sit at the Justice Center. The Bergen County Surrogate’s Court is at the same complex (Room 211).

Ridgefield Geography and Traffic

Ridgefield’s geography drives the recurring fact patterns of our local DWI and traffic caseload. The borough sits on the Palisades in southeast Bergen, bounded by:

• Bergen Boulevard (CR 501) — the commercial spine; runs the length of the borough
• Broad Avenue — the civic spine where our office sits
• Shaler Boulevard — northeast residential corridor
• Edgewater Avenue / Grand Avenue — secondary spines
• Route 1/9 (Tonnelle Avenue) — eastern town border
• I-95 / NJ Turnpike Exit 70 (Ridgefield/Palisades Park) — directly serves the borough, ~1 mile north
• Route 46 — accessible ~1 mile north via Palisades Park
• George Washington Bridge — ~5 miles north

Most local DWI matters originate from traffic stops on the Bergen Boulevard / Route 1-9 commercial strip — particularly nightlife stops near the Korean-language bars and karaoke venues that anchor the eastern commercial district. The Korean-American population is ~30-35% per 2020 Census, one of the highest concentrations in NJ.

The Ridgefield Police Department is co-located with the municipal court at 604 Broad Avenue. Non-emergency: (201) 943-1799. Per local practice, Ridgefield PD relies heavily on the Alcotest 7110 for DWI prosecutions; State v. Chun foundation challenges are a standard component of any defense in this court.

Why Ridgefield Residents Hire Avery & Avery

There is a structural reason most Ridgefield matters that go to a lawyer go to one of two firms — and we are one of them. Robert W. Avery’s continuous Bergen County trial practice since 1976 predates most of the firms in any modern Bergen competitor roster. Robert’s fifteen years on the Ridgefield bench (1986-2000) mean he has read the same complaints, presided over the same statutes, and listened to the same arguments now being deployed on a client’s behalf. Our office at 559 Bergen Boulevard, 2nd Floor means we walk to the courthouse.

John S. Avery, Esq. anchors the firm’s modern criminal-defense practice with a constitutional-trial / search-and-seizure-forward approach — the right shape of defense for the recurring Ridgefield DWI / traffic-stop fact pattern.

Common Ridgefield Matter Types

• First-offense DWI at Ridgefield Municipal Court — N.J.S.A. 39:4-50; Alcotest foundation challenges; the 20-minute observation rule
• Title 39 traffic — speeding stops on Bergen Boulevard, careless driving stops at the I-95 Exit 70 ramps, suspended-license matters
• Disorderly persons — local Title 2C DP and PDP charges (drug possession, disorderly conduct, simple assault) heard in Ridgefield
• Domestic violence TROs — after-hours emergent issuance under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 et seq.
• Indictable matters — third-degree drug, weapons, and assault charges routing to Bergen Superior Court in Hackensack
• Family matters — divorce, custody, alimony for Ridgefield residents, heard at Bergen Vicinage 2 in Hackensack
• Estate matters — wills, POA, advance directives, executor administration through Bergen Surrogate
• Landlord-tenant — Special Civil Part filings at the Bergen Justice Center

Ridgefield Neighbors

We also serve the towns immediately surrounding Ridgefield: Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Fairview, Palisades Park, Leonia, and Fort Lee. These adjacent boroughs route to the same Bergen Vicinage 2 Superior Court for indictable matters and share the Route 1/9 / Bergen Boulevard / I-95 traffic patterns that drive our regional DWI and traffic docket.

Visit Our Office or Schedule a Consultation

Avery & Avery, Esqs. — 559 Bergen Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Ridgefield, NJ 07657 — (201) 943-2445.

We are within walking distance of Ridgefield Borough Hall, Ridgefield PD, and the Ridgefield Municipal Court. Bergen Boulevard runs a block east; the I-95 / NJ Turnpike Exit 70 ramps are about a mile north.

For matter-specific background, see the practice page that fits your situation: DWI, criminal defense, traffic, municipal court practice, or any of the other practice areas. For background on Robert’s bench tenure, see his attorney bio.