Pascack Valley Joint Municipal Court to disband amid towns’ tensions

Judge's gavel and law books

MONTVALE—The Pascack Valley Joint Court, established in 2011 as a model of intermunicipal collaboration, is now set to dissolve by the end of 2025. For more than a decade, the court served Montvale, Park Ridge, and Woodcliff Lake, offering shared facilities and resources to cut costs and streamline operations. However, disputes over leadership and the court’s future have fractured the partnership.

The joint court, housed in Montvale’s municipal building at 12 Mercedes Drive, was governed by a shared services agreement that placed Montvale in charge of court facilities, personnel, and administration. Montvale handled appointments for court professionals, courtroom security, and operations management, while each municipality retained revenue from cases on its docket. The agreement also included an advisory committee, with representatives from each town tasked with ensuring operations ran smoothly.

Despite these carefully outlined roles, tensions have emerged. On Nov. 26, Montvale’s governing body voted, unanimously, to move from the joint model to a shared court arrangement, with Montvale taking the lead. The change, set to take effect in late 2025, would allow Montvale to independently appoint court personnel, including a judge and prosecutor—eliminating the collaborative hiring process that some officials say has led to inefficiencies and delays.

Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali posted, “Our staff has been facing growing frustration with the challenges of securing temporary judges and rescheduling hearings due to a lack of available judges. With the new arrangement, if Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake choose to participate, we will have the ability to select a permanent judge and prosecutor independently, without needing approval from the other towns.”

Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo expressed frustration with Montvale’s approach, calling it a unilateral decision made without prior warning. “Over the past year, we have operated with a series of temporary judges. Unfortunately, despite agreeing to work together to get a new permanent judge appointed, Montvale has unilaterally and without any prior warning to its neighbors, given Woodcliff Lake and Park Ridge formal notice that it is withdrawing from the Court as of Dec. 31, 2025.”

Park Ridge passed a resolution on Dec. 18 to withdraw from the joint court entirely, effective Jan. 1, 2026, with officials citing Montvale’s withdrawal notice and other factors. The borough says it remains open to future shared-service agreements but is also preparing to reestablish its own independent municipal court if necessary.

A Model Agreement, Now Undone

The Pascack Valley Joint Municipal Court was initially structured to balance the benefits of collaboration with the independence of each municipality. The agreement required unanimous approval for major decisions, like hiring court professionals, and provided each municipality with its own court revenue. Montvale acted as the lead agency, overseeing operations and maintaining the court’s facilities and resources.

The system was not without challenges. Disputes over shared costs, security, and administrative responsibilities were built into the agreement’s framework but depended heavily on cooperation. The advisory committee was tasked with resolving such issues, but some officials say the structure created more delays than solutions.

Regional Context

The Pascack Valley Joint Court’s dissolution follows a different shared-service agreement forged earlier this year between Hillsdale and Westwood. In January, the two towns combined their municipal court staffs under Westwood’s administration while keeping their court systems separate. This move was projected to save Hillsdale $70,000 annually and Westwood over $50,000. However, the transition sparked complaints from affected employees. [See “Hillsdale, Westwood in shared-court pact” by Michael Olohan.]

The next steps for Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake remain uncertain. Both towns have expressed interest in exploring new partnerships, potentially with each other or with other nearby municipalities. We’ll stay with this developing story.