(a) 
Generally.
(1) 
The municipal court of the city shall be presided over by the municipal court judge, appointed according to article IV, section 4 of the city’s home rule charter.
(2) 
One or more alternate judges may be appointed according to the city charter.
(3) 
Biennially in June of each odd-numbered year, the city council shall appoint one or more municipal judges in accordance with the city’s home rule charter.
(4) 
A judge shall hold office for two years from the date of appointment or until his successor is appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the city council, pursuant to this section of this article.
(5) 
In the event of any vacancy in the office of a municipal judge by death, resignation or otherwise, the city council shall appoint a qualified attorney to fill the unexpired term as municipal judge.
(6) 
A person may not serve as a municipal judge if the person is employed by the city. A municipal judge who accepts employment with the city vacates his position as municipal judge.
(7) 
Each municipal court judge shall devote as much time to the office as necessary.
(b) 
The presiding judge shall:
(1) 
Be the administrative head of the judiciary of the city;
(2) 
Maintain a central docket for cases filed within the territorial limits of the city over which the municipal court of record has jurisdiction;
(3) 
Provide for the distribution of cases from the central docket to the individual municipal judges to equalize the distribution of business in the courts;
(4) 
Request the jurors needed for cases that are set for trial by jury;
(5) 
Supervise and control the operation and functions of the proceedings of the court, specifically those operations relating to courtroom processes; however, the judge shall not supervise any court personnel;
(6) 
Promulgate work rules concerning the administration of the court dockets, the times and places for holding court, equalizing of the case assignments, the vacation schedules and other administrative details concerned with the judicial performance of the municipal court (“rules”), which rules shall be submitted to the city manager and city attorney for comment prior to adoption by the city council;
(7) 
Be responsible to see that the rules are adhered to by the court; and [sic]
(Ordinance 6141 adopted 8/6/18)
A municipal judge is entitled to a salary, the amount of which shall be determined by the city council. The amount of a judge’s salary may not be diminished during the judge’s term of office. Further, the amount of the municipal court judge’s salary shall not he based directly or indirectly on fines, fees or costs collected by the court of record.
(Ordinance 6141 adopted 8/6/18)
The municipal judge shall take judicial notice of state law and the ordinances and corporate limits of the city. The municipal judge shall have all powers assigned by state law, including the power to grant writs of mandamus, attachment and other writs necessary to the enforcement of the jurisdiction of the court of record and may issue writs of habeas corpus in cases in which the offense charged is within the jurisdiction of the court of record. The municipal judge is a magistrate and may issue administrative search warrants.
(Ordinance 6141 adopted 8/6/18)
A municipal judge may be removed from office at any time for the reasons stated and consistent with V.T.C.A., Texas Government Code § 30.000085, as amended.
(Ordinance 6141 adopted 8/6/18)