This division 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.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 2, adopted 12/19/05)
[1]
Editor’s note–Former section 12.02.057 pertaining to city marshal and deriving from Ordinance 2013-11-18-05 adopted 11/18/13, was repealed by Ordinance 2019-09-16-01 adopted 9/16/19.
The provisions of this division govern the creation, establishment, operation, and jurisdiction of the municipal court of record within the city, including the judges of the court.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(A), adopted 12/19/05)
There is hereby established one (1) municipal court of record within the city, with the numerical designation of “Municipal Court of Record No. 1.”
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(B), adopted 12/19/05)
The provisions of this division shall apply within the city limits and within the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city, and as prescribed by state law. 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. The municipal court of record also has jurisdiction over cases arising outside the territorial limits of the city under ordinances authorized by Texas Local Government Code sections 215.072, 217.042, 341.903, and 401.002, or otherwise as provided by law.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(C), adopted 12/19/05)
(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 the mayor and approved by the council by ordinance. The term of the municipal judge shall be two years and shall continue until a successor is appointed. The judge’s compensation shall be set by the city council. The amount of the judge’s compensation may not be diminished during the judge’s term of office. The compensation may not be based directly or indirectly on fines, fees, or costs collected by the court.
(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 adopt an ordinance appointing a qualified person to fill the office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(e)
There shall also be as many as three (3) associate judges appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council by ordinance. The associate judge’s term shall run concurrent with the mayor until their successor is appointed. The associate judges shall be subject to the same qualifications, shall have all the powers and shall discharge all the duties of a municipal judge while serving as municipal judge. 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 associate 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 for the reasons stated and by the procedures provided for the removal of judges in the city’s charter, or as provided by section 1-a, article V, Texas Constitution, or by the procedure provided for the removal of mayors and aldermen in a general-law municipality in section 21.002, Local Government Code.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(D), adopted 12/19/05; Ordinance 2021-04-26-01 adopted 4/26/21)
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 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(E), adopted 12/19/05)
The Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, as modified by chapter 30, Texas Government Code, govern the trial 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 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(F), adopted 12/19/05)
(a)
The city manager shall appoint a clerk of the municipal court of record, subject to the approval of the city council by ordinance. The clerk 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.
(b)
The governing body may provide deputy clerks, warrant officers and other personnel as needed for the proper operation of the court. The clerk and other court personnel perform their duties under the direction and control of the presiding judge.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(G), adopted 12/19/05)
(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)
The fee and expenses for the reporter’s record shall be paid for by the appellant.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(H), adopted 12/19/05)
(a)
The city council shall provide courtrooms, jury rooms, offices, office furniture, libraries, law books, and other facilities and supplies that the council determines necessary for the proper operation of the municipal court of record.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(I), adopted 12/19/05)
(a)
Prosecution in the municipal court of record shall be conducted as provided by article 45.201, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b)
The city manager shall designate a municipal prosecutor, subject to the approval of the city council.
(c)
The municipal prosecutor shall be either the city attorney or another attorney duly licensed to practice law in the state, who shall then be designated as a deputy city attorney.
(Ordinance 2021-04-26-01 adopted 4/26/21)
(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 chapter 45, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b)
The court clerk shall supervise the selection of persons for jury service.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(L), adopted 12/19/05)
(a)
Generally.
(1)
A defendant has the right of appeal from a judgment of 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 have jurisdiction of appeals from the municipal court of record.
(2)
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.
(3)
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 is 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.
(4)
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.
(5)
If the defendant is in custody, the appeal is perfected when the notice of appeal is given.
(6)
The fee for the preparation of the clerk’s record, which does not include the fee the defendant must pay for the actual transcription of the proceedings, is $25.00. 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.
(b)
Appeal bond.
(1)
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 tenth 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.
(2)
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. The bond must:
(c)
Record on appeal.
The record on appeal 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.
(d)
Clerk’s record.
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.
(e)
Reporter’s record.
(1)
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.
(2)
The appellant shall pay for the reporter’s record.
(f)
Bills of exception.
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.
(g)
Transfer of record.
(1)
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)
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.
(3)
After the court approves the record, the clerk shall promptly forward the record to the appellate court clerk.
(h)
Brief on appeal and new trial.
(1)
The appellant must file the appeal brief with the appellate 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 not later than 15th day after the date on which the appellant’s brief is filed.
(2)
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 and opposing party.
(3)
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.
(4)
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.
(i)
Certificate of appellate proceedings.
(1)
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.
(2)
If the municipal court of record judgment is affirmed, to enforce the judgment the court may:
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 3(M)–(U), adopted 12/19/05; Ordinance adopting Code)
The provisions of this division shall apply within the city limits and within the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city as prescribed by state law.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 4, adopted 12/19/05)
This division shall not be construed to require or allow any act which is prohibited by any other ordinance. This division is specifically subordinate to any or [sic] regulations of the city pertaining to building and construction safety or to pedestrian and traffic safety.
(Ordinance 2005-12-19-3, sec. 5, adopted 12/19/05)