My question involves traffic court in the State of: NJ
OK I got a summon, I had a court date which instead of going they allowed me to plead not guilty over the phone. I am then given another date and they refused to allow me an adjournment of that date, they didn't subpoena withnesses for this date although they sent notice to them. They refused to allow an adjournment of this date as they could not get a notice of a new date to those withnesses.
I go today. It's a plea thing only. 95% of it was people seeing prosecutor and pleading to lesser offense. I said not guilty and wouldn't take a plea as I'm not guilty. The prosecutor tells me she now is going to have to subpoena witnesses as they didn't show up.
When I see the judge I filed a motion to dismiss as the prosecutor wasn't ready and as I was told I needed to be ready with witnesses that date (he said so in his openning to the court), the same burden should lie with the prosecutor and I should not be treated unfairly for them not filing subpoena. I said there has been undue stress as there were issues with discovery, that it wasn't given on time and that they would not allow me to adjourn the case when requested the week before. He says this wasn't a trial and he's never seen me in court before although he doesn't say what it was? I said I would not give up my rights to a speedy trial.
They don't give me a new date yet. I ask the court desk when and they said they'd mail it to me. I asked them what this was and they said court. I clarify if it's not a trial then what was it supposed to be. They don't know.
What's the law? Do I have an ability to appeal this ruling? If this isn't a trial then what was it.
Basically it was kangaroo court, with the court just assessing fines for plea bargaining and wasting everyones time. If that was the procedure why don't they just allow that from square 1?
I feel so burdened. It is never ending.
I am fully prepared with questions for all who come and then the rug is pulled from under me.
Thanks to all who can help and explain this to me.
How many times will I have to go to court? What is the date they must give me a speedy trial by for a careless driving citation in NJ? What was this other than a plea bargaining that was worthless?

