The city council establishes its municipal court as a municipal court of record in order to provide a more efficient disposition of appeals from the municipal court, and in order to more effectively enforce its ordinances.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.101)
The municipal court of record shall be the municipal court of record in the city.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.102)
The municipal court of record in the city has the jurisdiction and authority provided by section 30.00005 of the Government Code.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.103)
The city manager shall appoint a clerk of the municipal court of record, who shall be known as the municipal court clerk. The municipal court clerk shall keep the records of the municipal court of record, issue process, and generally perform the duties of a clerk of a county court at law exercising criminal jurisdiction. In the annual budget, the city council may provide deputy clerks, warrant officers, and other personnel as needed for the proper operation of the municipal court of record. During the proceedings of the court, the clerk and court personnel shall serve at the direction of the municipal court judge. At all other times they shall serve at the direction and under the supervision of the city manager or his designee, who shall have the authority to remove the court personnel according to rules set forth in the city’s personnel policies.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.110)
The municipal court clerk shall appoint a court reporter, who must meet the qualifications provided by law for official court reporters. The court reporter or court staff may use written notes, transcribing equipment, video or audio recording equipment, or a combination of those methods to record the proceedings of the court. The court reporter or court staff are not required to record testimony in any case unless the judge or one of the parties requests a record in writing, and files the request with the court before trial. If a record is made, it shall be kept for the twenty-day period beginning the day after the last day of the court proceeding, trial or denial of motion for new trial, whichever occurs last. The court reporter is not required to be present during proceedings of the municipal court of record, provided that proceedings that are required to be recorded are recorded by a good-quality electronic recording device. If a case is appealed, the proceedings shall be transcribed from the recording by an official court reporter.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.111)
The court clerk is directed to acquire a seal in conformance with state law for the municipal court of record in the city.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.112)
The court clerk shall supervise the selection of persons for jury service in the municipal court of record.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.113)
In the event of an appeal, the appellant shall pay a transcript preparation fee as provided for in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code. The transcript preparation fee does not include the fee for an actual transcript of the proceedings. 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 appellant. In addition to the transcript preparation fee, the fee for the actual transcript of the proceedings and statement of facts must be paid by the appellant.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.114)
(a) 
Authority to issue citations.
Each of the following employees shall have the power to issue one or more citations for violation of city ordinances that the employee is charged with the responsibility of enforcing: building official, ordinance officer, fire marshal, firefighters, police officers, and animal control officers.
(b) 
Promise to appear.
(1) 
A person lawfully released from custody, whether by posting bond or by signing a written notice to appear, on condition that he subsequently appear in the municipal court, shall appear in accordance with the terms of his release.
(2) 
For purposes of this section, “custody” means an arrest or a detention for purposes of issuing a written citation by a police officer or by a person authorized to issue citations under subsection (a) of this section.
(c) 
Violations; penalty.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
(2001 Code, secs. 7.115–7.117)
The municipal court of record in the city has the 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.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.118)
The judges of the municipal court of record in the city shall be appointed by the city council. A judge who was elected or appointed before September 1, 1999 continues in office until the end of the current term.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.104)
(a) 
A municipal judge of the municipal court of record in the city must:
(1) 
Be a resident of this state;
(2) 
Be a citizen of the United States;
(3) 
Be a licensed attorney in good standing; and
(4) 
Have two or more years of experience in the practice of law in this state.
(b) 
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 the judicial office.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.105)
The city council shall set the salary of the municipal judge of the municipal court of record in the city. 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.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.106)
The municipal judge shall supervise and control the operation and clerical functions of the administrative department of the municipal court, including the court’s personnel, during the proceedings or docket of the court. At all other times, the operation and clerical functions of the administrative department of the municipal court shall be under the supervision and direction of the court clerk.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.107)
The term of an appointed municipal judge for the municipal court of record in the city is two years from the date of appointment.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.108)
If a vacancy occurs in the office of a municipal judge of a court of record, the city council shall by ordinance appoint a qualified person to fill the office for the remainder of the unexpired term. The city council may appoint one or more qualified persons to be available to serve for a municipal judge who is temporarily absent due to illness, family death, continuing legal or judicial education programs or any other reason. The municipal judge shall select one of the qualified persons appointed by the city council to serve during the absence of the municipal judge. The substitute judge, while serving as a municipal judge, has all the powers and shall discharge all the duties of a municipal judge. A substitute judge must meet the qualifications prescribed for the municipal judge. The city council shall set the compensation for the substitute judge.
(2001 Code, sec. 7.109)