(a) 
The town council hereby finds and determines that the creation of a municipal court of record is necessary to provide for the more efficient disposition of cases arising within the town.
(b) 
The town council hereby creates a municipal court of record to be known as the “Municipal Court of Record No. 1 in the Town of Copper Canyon, Texas.”
(Ordinance 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)
The municipal court of record shall have:
(1) 
The general jurisdiction as provided by section 30.00005 of the Texas Government Code, as amended;
(2) 
Concurrent jurisdiction with a district court or a county court at law under subchapter B, chapter 54, Texas Local Government Code, within the town’s territorial limits and property owned by the town located in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing health and safety and nuisance abatement ordinances;
(3) 
Civil jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing municipal ordinances enacted under subchapter A, chapter 214, Texas Local Government Code, or subchapter E, chapter 683, Texas Transportation Code; and
(4) 
Authority to issue:
(A) 
Search warrants for the purpose of investigating a health and safety or nuisance abatement ordinance violation; and
(B) 
Seizure warrants for the purpose of securing, removing, or demolishing the offending property and removing the debris from the premises.
(Ordinance 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)
An individual appointed to serve as a municipal court judge shall be:
(1) 
A resident of the state;
(2) 
A citizen of the United States;
(3) 
A licensed attorney in good standing; and
(4) 
Have two (2) or more years of experience in the practice of law in this state.
(Ordinance 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)
All individuals appointed to serve as municipal judge for the court of record shall serve a term of two (2) years, to run concurrently with the term of the mayor.
(Ordinance 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)
A municipal judge is entitled to a salary, the amount of which shall be determined by the town 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 be based directly or indirectly on fines, fees or costs collected by the court of record.
(Ordinance 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)
The municipal judge shall take judicial notice of state law and the ordinances and corporate limits of the town. 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 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)
(a) 
If there is more than one municipal judge, town council shall appoint one of the judges as the presiding judge.
(b) 
The presiding judge shall:
(1) 
Maintain a central docket for cases filed within the territorial limits of the town over which the municipal court of record has jurisdiction;
(2) 
Provide for the distribution of cases from the central docket to the individual municipal judges to equalize the distribution of business in the courts;
(3) 
Request the jurors needed for cases that are set for trial by jury;
(4) 
Temporarily assign judges or substitute judges to exchange benches and to act for each other in a proceeding pending in a court if necessary for the expeditious disposition of business in the courts; and
(5) 
Supervise and control the operation and clerical functions of the administrative department of each court, including the court’s personnel, during the proceedings of the court.
(Ordinance 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)
If a vacancy occurs in the office of municipal judge, town council shall by ordinance provide for the appointment of a qualified person to fill the office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(Ordinance 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)
A municipal judge may be removed from office at any time for the reasons stated and consistent with section 30.000085 of the Texas Government Code, as amended.
(Ordinance 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)
(a) 
The town council shall appoint a clerk of the municipal court. The municipal court clerk shall receive such salary as may be fixed by ordinance or resolution. The town secretary may act as assistant clerk of the municipal court.
(b) 
The clerk of the municipal court shall keep the records of the municipal court of record, issue process, and generally perform the duties that a clerk of a county court at law exercising criminal jurisdiction performs for that court. In addition, the clerk 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.
(c) 
The town council may provide deputy clerks, warrant officers, and other personnel as needed for the proper operation of the court of record. Such individuals shall perform their duties under the direction and control of the presiding judge during times when court is in session.
(Ordinance 15-017 adopted 9/28/15)