§ 9:22-9 — Hearings.

9. Any municipal youth guidance council having an adjustment committee may petition the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, in its discretion, to either: a. Establish a schedule for a holding of juvenile hearings in a suitable location chosen by the adjustment committee within the limits of the petitioning municipality; or b. Appoint a referee to hear and recommend disposition of any cases specifically referred to the referee by the Family Part of the county and any cases coming within the provisions of the "New Jersey Code of Youth Justice," P.L.1982, c. 77 (C.2A:4A-20 et seq.) arising within the limits of the petitioning municipality. It shall be the duty of the petitioning municipality to see that adequate diagnostic services shall be made available to such children. Any case requiring the detention of a child shall be referred to the Family Part for hearing. Upon receipt of a petition to appoint a referee the Family Part shall proceed to appoint a member of the adjustment committee, or some other suitable person, as referee, in accordance with N.J.S.2A:4-12. Nothing in this provision shall limit the present discretionary power of the Family Part to appoint referees on their own initiative or to prevent such a court from hearing cases scheduled to be heard in the petitioning municipality in place of the referee so appointed by it. L.1947,c.179,s.9; amended 1953, c.9, s.61; 1991,c.91,s.215; 2025, c.35, s.26.