The municipal court shall be presided over by a municipal judge,
who shall be responsible to the city council for the conduct of the
court in a dignified manner and in accordance with the laws of the
state and the ordinances of the city.
(2005 Code, sec. 2.2.02)
The municipal judge shall be appointed by the city council for
a term of two (2) years. The judge shall be an attorney possessing
all of the qualifications of a municipal judge prescribed in subchapter
JJ, chapter 30 of the Texas Government Code, who has complied with
the provisions of the State Bar Act, is duly qualified and licensed
to practice law in this state, and is a member of the State Bar in
good standing. The judge of the municipal court shall be appointed
for a term corresponding to the term of office of the mayor; provided
that he may be removed from office at any time by a vote of a majority
of the members of the city council for inefficiency, neglect of duty
or malfeasance in office.
(2005 Code, sec. 2.2.03)
The city council may appoint one or more alternate judges to
be available to serve in the event of the temporary absence of the
municipal judge due to illness, family death, continuing legal or
judicial education programs or any other reason. An alternate judge
shall possess all of the qualifications of a municipal judge and,
while serving as judge, shall have all of the powers and discharge
all of the duties of the municipal judge.
(2005 Code, sec. 2.2.04)
The city council shall appoint a court administrator by a majority
vote of the city council with advice from the mayor and city administrator.
The court administrator shall serve as the clerk of the municipal
court shall hold office for an indefinite term subject to removal
at any time by a majority vote of the city council. In addition, the
city council may from time to time authorize such other court deputy
or ex-officio clerks as may be necessary to properly perform the court
administrator’s duties. The court administrator shall hold office
for an indefinite term subject to removal at any time by a majority
vote of the city council. The court administrator shall perform such
duties as are authorized and required by state law and ordinances
of the city. The court administrator shall keep the records of the
municipal court of record, issue process, and perform the duties described
in section 30.00009, Texas Government Code. All powers and duties
imposed herein upon the court administrator may be exercised and performed
by any court clerk under the direction of the court administrator.
The court administrator shall not be considered a municipal officer
under section 22.071, Texas Local Government Code. During proceedings
of the court, the court administrator and other court personnel shall
serve at the direction of the municipal judge. At all other times,
they shall serve at the direction and supervision of the city administrator
and the city council shall consider the city administrator’s
recommendations to the city council regarding the appointment, compensation,
and term of the court administrator.
(Ordinance 17-13, sec. 11, adopted 5/18/17)
The chief of police shall provide the court with policemen,
one or more to be warrant officers of the municipal court. Warrant
officers shall serve and execute warrants of arrest, subpoenas and
other legal process duly issued, and shall perform such additional
duties as may be specifically assigned by the court. Such officers
shall also be subject to call to perform their basic police duties
when the chief of police deems their service is needed. The performance
of duties and conduct of such officers shall conform to that required
of all other police officers of the city.
Nothing herein shall prevent or in any wise inhibit any police
officer of the city from serving or executing any legal process upon
lawful direction to him so to do.
(2005 Code, sec. 2.2.06)
There shall be a court reporter meeting the requirements of
section 30.01376, chapter 30 of the Texas Government Code; provided
that, in lieu of a court reporter present at trial, proceedings in
the municipal court of record shall be recorded by a good quality
electronic recording device in accordance with section 30.01376, chapter
30 of the Texas Government Code.
(2005 Code, sec. 2.2.07)
