This article is adopted so that the city council may promote
the public health, safety, morals and general welfare within the city
through the enforcement of the city’s ordinances and the efficient
disposition of cases arising from such ordinances.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 1(B),
adopted 12/12/06)
The provisions of this article shall apply within the city limits
and within the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city as
prescribed by state law.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 1(C),
adopted 12/12/06)
Appellate court.
The county criminal court, the county criminal court of appeals,
or the municipal court of appeals; or the county court at law if there
is no county criminal court, county criminal court of appeals, or
municipal court of appeals, or the county court if there is no county
court at law, of the county in which the offense occurred.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 1(D),
adopted 12/12/06)
The provisions of this article govern the creation, establishment,
operation, and jurisdiction of the municipal court of record within
the city, including the judges of the court.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(A),
adopted 12/12/06)
There is hereby established one (1) municipal court of record
within the city, with the numerical designation of “Municipal
Court of Record No. 1” effective February 1, 2007.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(B),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) Pursuant
to section 30.00005, Texas Government Code, the municipal court of
record has the jurisdiction provided by general law for municipal
courts contained in section 29.003, Texas Government Code, including
concurrent jurisdiction with justice courts as provided by section
29.003.
(b) The
municipal court of record has jurisdiction over cases arising outside
the territorial limits of the city under ordinances authorized by
Texas Local Government Code, sections 215.072, 271.042, 341.903, and
401.002, or otherwise as provided by law.
(c) The
municipal court of record has civil jurisdiction for the purpose of
enforcing municipal ordinances enacted under subchapter A, chapter
214, Local Government Code, or subchapter E, chapter 683, Transportation
Code.
(d) The
municipal court of record has concurrent jurisdiction with a district
court or a county court at law under subchapter B, chapter 54, Local
Government Code, within the city’s territorial limits and property
owned by the city located in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction
for the purposes of enforcing health and safety and nuisance abatement
ordinances.
(e) The
municipal court of record has authority to issue:
(1) Search warrants for the purpose of investigating a health and safety
or nuisance abatement ordinance violation; and
(2) Seizure warrants for the purpose of securing, removing, or demolishing
the offending property and removing the debris from the premises.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(C),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) The
municipal court of record shall be presided over by a judge, who shall
be known as the “municipal judge.” The judge shall be
appointed by ordinance for a term of two (2) years and shall be entitled
to a salary set by the city council. The amount of the judge’s
salary may not be diminished during the judge’s term of office.
The salary may not be based directly or indirectly on fines, fees,
or costs collected by the court.
(b) The
judge must:
(1) Be a citizen of the United States;
(2) Be a resident of this state;
(3) Be a licensed attorney in good standing; and
(4) Have two (2) or more years of experience in the practice of law in
this state.
(c) A
person may not serve as a municipal judge if the person is otherwise
employed by the municipality. A municipal judge who accepts other
employment with the municipality vacates the judicial office.
(d) If
a vacancy occurs in the office of municipal judge, the city council
shall appoint a qualified person to fill the office for the remainder
of the unexpired term.
(e) There
shall also be as many as three (3) alternate judges appointed by the
city council, subject to the same qualifications, who shall have all
the powers and shall discharge all the duties of a municipal judge
while serving as municipal judge. Each alternate judge shall be appointed
for a term of two (2) years. If the regular municipal judge is temporarily
absent due to illness, family death, continuing legal or judicial
education programs, or any other reason, he shall select one of the
alternate judges to serve during his absence.
(f) The
municipal judges may exchange benches and act for each other in any
proceeding pending in the court. An act performed by any of the judges
is binding on all parties to the proceeding.
(g) The
municipal judge shall take judicial notice of state law and the ordinances
and corporate limits of the municipality.
(h) A
municipal judge is a magistrate and may issue administrative search
warrants.
(i) A
municipal judge may be removed from office by the city council:
(1) Upon a majority vote of the city council at a duly called meeting
where it is determined that removal is in the best interests of the
city;
(2) As provided by section 1-a, article V, Texas Constitution; or
(3) For the reasons and by the procedure provided in subchapter B, chapter
21, Local Government Code.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(D),
adopted 12/12/06)
The judges of the municipal court of record may grant writs
of mandamus, attachment, and other writs necessary to the enforcement
of the jurisdiction of the municipal court of record and may issue
writs of habeas corpus in cases in which the offense charged is within
the jurisdiction of the municipal court of record.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(E),
adopted 12/12/06)
The Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure, as modified by chapter 30, Texas Government Code, govern
the trial and appeal of cases before the municipal court of record.
The court may make and enforce all rules of practice and procedure
necessary to expedite the trial of cases before the court that are
not inconsistent with law.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(F),
adopted 12/12/06)
The mayor of the city shall appoint a clerk of the municipal
court of record who may hire, direct and remove the personnel authorized
in the city’s annual budget for the clerk’s office. The
clerk or the clerk’s deputies shall keep the records of the
municipal court of record, issue process, and generally perform the
duties for the court that a clerk of the county court at law exercising
criminal jurisdiction is required by law to perform for that court.
In addition, the clerk or the clerk’s deputies shall maintain
an index of all court judgments in the same manner as county clerks
are required by law to prepare for criminal cases arising in county
courts. The clerk shall perform the duties in accordance with statutes,
and the charter and ordinances of the city. During the proceedings
of the court, the clerk and other court personnel shall serve at the
direction of the municipal judge.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(G),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) For
the purpose of recording the proceedings and preserving a record in
all cases tried before the municipal court of record, a good quality
electronic recording device shall be used. When the recording device
is used, a court reporter need not be present at the trial to certify
the reporter’s record. Proceedings of the court that are appealed
shall be transcribed from the recording by an official court reporter.
The recording shall be kept and stored for a 20-day period beginning
the day after the last day of the proceeding, trial or denial of motion
for a new trial, whichever occurs last.
(b) In
lieu of a good quality electronic device and as deemed necessary by
the municipal judge, a court reporter appointed by the court clerk
under Texas Government Code section 30.00010, shall preserve the record.
The court reporter may use written notes, transcribing equipment,
video or audio recording equipment, or a combination of these methods
to record the proceedings of the municipal court of record. The court
reporter shall keep the record for a 20-day period beginning the day
after the last day of the court proceeding, trial or denial of motion
for new trial, or until any appeal is final, whichever occurs last.
(c) Testimony
is not required to be recorded in a case unless requested by the judge
or one of the parties.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(H),
adopted 12/12/06)
The clerk’s record must substantially conform to the provisions
relating to the preparation of a clerk’s record in the Texas
Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(P),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) A
reporter’s record included in the record on appeal must substantially
conform to the provisions relating to the preparation of a reporter’s
record in the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Code of Criminal
Procedure.
(b) The
appellant shall pay for the reporter’s record.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(Q),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) The
city council shall provide courtrooms, jury rooms, offices, office
furniture, libraries, law books, and other facilities and supplies
that the city council determines necessary for the proper operation
of the municipal court of record.
(b) The
city council shall provide the municipal court of record with a seal
that contains the phrase “Municipal Court of the City of Horseshoe
Bay, Texas.” The seal’s use must conform to article 45.012
of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(I),
adopted 12/12/06)
Complaints and pleadings must substantially conform to the relevant
provisions of chapters 27 and 45, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(J),
adopted 12/12/06)
Prosecution in the municipal court of record shall be conducted
as provided by article 45.201, Code of Criminal Procedure. Prosecution
may be performed by the city attorney or another lawyer designated
as deputy city attorney.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(K),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) A
person who is brought before the municipal court of record and who
is charged with an offense is entitled to be tried by a jury of six
(6) persons. Trial by jury, including the summoning of jurors, must
substantially conform to chapters 35, 36, 37, 38, and 45, Code of
Criminal Procedure.
(b) The
court clerk shall supervise the selection of persons for jury service.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(L),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) A
defendant has the right of appeal from a judgment or conviction. The
state has the right to appeal as provided by article 44.01 Code of
Criminal Procedure. The county criminal courts or county criminal
courts of appeal of Llano or Burnet County, as applicable, have jurisdiction
of appeals from the municipal courts of record. If there is no such
court, the county courts or county courts at law have jurisdiction
of an appeal.
(b) The
appellate court shall determine each appeal from a municipal court
of record conviction and each appeal from the state on the basis of
the errors that are set forth in the appellant’s motion for
new trial and that are presented in the clerk’s record and reporter’s
record prepared from the proceedings leading to the conviction or
appeal. An appeal from the municipal court of record may not be by
trial de novo.
(c) To
perfect an appeal, the appellant must file a motion for new trial
not later than the 10th day after the date on which the judgment and
sentence are rendered. The motion must be in writing and must be filed
with the clerk of the municipal court of record. The motion must set
forth the points of error of which the appellant complains. The motion
or an amended motion may be amended by leave of court at any time
before action on the motion is taken, but not later than the 20th
day after the date on which the original or amended motion is filed.
The court may for good cause extend the time for filing or amending,
but the extension may not exceed ninety (90) days from the original
filing deadline. If the court does not act on the motion before the
expiration of the thirty (30) days allowed for determination of the
motion, the original or amended motion is overruled by operation of
law.
(d) To
perfect an appeal, the appellant must also give notice of the appeal.
If the appellant requests a hearing on the motion for new trial, the
appellant may give the notice of appeal orally in open court on the
overruling of the motion. If there is no hearing, the appellant must
give a written notice of appeal and must file the notice with the
court no later than the 10th day after the date on which the motion
is overruled. The court may for good cause extend that time period,
but the extension may not exceed ninety (90) days from the original
filing deadline.
(e) The
fee for the preparation of the clerk’s record, which does not
include the fee the defendant must pay for an actual transcript of
the proceedings, is as provided for in the fee schedule found in the
appendix of this code. The clerk shall note the payment of the fee
on the docket of the court. If the case is reversed on appeal, the
fee shall be refunded to the defendant.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(M),
adopted 12/12/06; Ordinance adopting
Code)
(a) If
the defendant is not in custody, the defendant may not take an appeal
until the defendant files an appeal bond with the municipal court
of record. The bond must be approved by the court and must be filed
not later than the 10th day after the date on which the motion for
new trial is overruled. If the defendant is in custody, the defendant
shall be committed to jail unless the defendant posts the appeal bond.
(b) The
appeal bond must be in the amount of $100.00 or double the amount
of fines and costs adjudged against the defendant, whichever is greater.
(c) The
bond must:
(1) State that the defendant was convicted in the case and has appealed;
and
(2) Be conditioned on the defendant’s immediate and daily personal
appearance in the court to which the appeal is taken.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(N),
adopted 12/12/06)
The record on appeal must substantially conform to the provisions
relating to the preparation of a transcript in the Texas Rules of
Appellate Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(O),
adopted 12/12/06)
Bills of exception must substantially conform to the provisions
relating to the preparation of bills of exception in the Texas Rules
of Appellate Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(R),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) Not
later than the 60th day after the date on which the notice of appeal
is given or filed, the parties must file the following with the clerk
of the municipal court:
(2) A written description of material to be included in the clerk’s
record in addition to the required material; and
(3) Any material to be included in the clerk’s record that is not
in the custody of the clerk.
(b) On
completion of the record, the municipal judge shall approve the record
in the manner provided for record completion, approval, and notification
in the court of appeals.
(c) After
the court approves the record, the clerk shall promptly forward the
record to the appellate court clerk.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(S),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) Appellant
must file the appeal brief with the appellant court clerk not later
than the 15th day after the date upon which the clerk’s record
and reporter’s record are filed. The appellee must file the
appellee’s brief no later than the 15th day after the date on
which the appellant’s brief is filed.
(b) Each
party, on filing the party’s brief on appeal with the appellate
court clerk, shall deliver a copy of the brief to the municipal judge.
(c) The
trial court shall decide from the briefs of the parties whether the
appellant should be permitted to withdraw the notice of appeal and
be granted a new trial by the court. The court may grant a new trial
at any time before the record is filed with the appellate court.
(d) If
the appellate court awards a new trial to the appellant, the case
stands as if a new trial had been granted by the municipal court of
record.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(T),
adopted 12/12/06)
(a) Upon
receipt of the certificate of appellate proceedings from the appellate
court clerk, the clerk of the municipal court of record shall file
the certificate with the papers in the case and note the certificate
on the case docket.
(b) If
the municipal court of record judgment is affirmed, to enforce the
judgment the court may:
(1) Forfeit the bond of the defendant;
(2) Issue a writ of capias for the defendant;
(3) Issue an execution against the defendant’s property;
(4) Order a refund for the defendant’s costs; or
(5) Conduct an indigency hearing at the court’s discretion.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 2(U),
adopted 12/12/06)
This article shall not be construed to require or allow any
act which is prohibited by any other ordinance. This article is specifically
subordinate to any ordinance or regulations of the city pertaining
to building and construction safety or to pedestrian and traffic safety.
(Ordinance 06-12-12A, sec. 3, adopted 12/12/06)