A municipal court, known as the “Municipal Court in Joshua,
Texas,” is hereby established. The Municipal Court shall have
the jurisdiction, powers, and duties given and prescribed by the laws
of the State of Texas. The City Council shall have the power to create
and establish by ordinance additional Municipal Courts.
All fines, fees, or costs collected by the Municipal Court shall
be deposited in the City treasury. No fee or costs shall be charged
except those authorized by State Law. Neither the Compensation of
the Judge of the Municipal Court, nor of any full or part-time employee
of the City, shall be based upon a percentage of the fines imposed
by the Municipal Court.
The City Council shall appoint a Judge and associate judges,
as needed, who shall be known as the “Judge of the Municipal
Court” and as the “Associate Judge of the Municipal Court.”
The Judge and associate judges shall be appointed for a two (2) year
term. The City Council shall set the compensation for the Judge and
associate judges. The City Council shall have the authority to remove
the Judge for good cause as determined by the City Council. A hearing
must be held.
Appointment and removal shall require an affirmative vote of
at least four (4) members of the City Council. If the office of the
Judge or Associate Judge is declared vacant, it shall be filled by
appointment by the City Council in accordance with this Section.
The City Manager shall appoint or remove the “Clerk of
the Municipal Court,” with City Council approval. The Clerk
of the Municipal Court shall keep the records and the proceedings
of the
Court, issue all processes, and generally perform all of the
duties prescribed by law for clerks of such courts, insofar as those
duties are applicable.
All cases in Municipal Court shall be prosecuted by the City
Attorney or such attorneys as the Council may authorize.
