Yes, I just recently evicted a tenant from Jersey City Heights.

Yes you can hire an attorney to handle this..as long as you give the lawyer all the paperwork they require, you are not required to appear.

No show is not auto win..there are things the tenant can do, and the judge will set a lockout date..usually they come back and that buys themselves a mother month or so. Also tougher to evict in the winter months.

I would consult a lawyer, hire him and save yourself a trip here.