The City Secretary shall be the clerical officer of the City
Council, and shall keep the minutes, agendas, ordinances, attendance
records, and other official records of the City Council and the City.
The City Secretary shall be the custodian of the official seal of
the City, and shall have such other duties and powers prescribed in
this Charter and by the City Council.
The City Council shall appoint a competent and duly licensed
Attorney practicing law in Tarrant County, Texas, who shall be the
City Attorney. The City Attorney shall receive for the City Attorney’s
services such compensation as may be fixed by the City Council and
shall hold the City Attorney’s office at the pleasure of the
City Council. The City Attorney, or such other attorneys selected
by the City Attorney with the approval of the City Council, shall
represent the City in all litigation and other legal matters involving
the City. The City Attorney shall be the legal advisor of, and attorney
and Counsel for, the City and all departments thereof.
The City Council shall have the authority to retain special
counsel for specific purposes.
There shall be established and maintained a court, designated
as the municipal court of record of the City of Lake Worth for the
trial of misdemeanor offenses, with all such powers and duties as
are now or hereafter may be prescribed by laws of the State of Texas
relative to municipal courts.
The judge of the municipal court shall be appointed by the City
Council for a term of two years. The judge shall be a resident of
this state, a citizen of the United States, and an attorney in good
standing licensed to practice in the State of Texas, with two or more
years experience in the practice of law in this State. The Council
shall fix the compensation for the judge in accordance with State
law and such compensation shall never be based on the fines assessed
or collected. Removal of the judge shall be at the discretion of the
Council by a majority vote of the City Council.
(Amended by Ordinance 1133 at an
election held on May 4, 2019, prop. J)
The Council may appoint one or more alternate Judge(s) who shall
have the same qualifications of Municipal Judge and who shall receive
such salary as may be fixed by the Council. In case of the temporary
disability or absence of the Judge of the Municipal Court, the alternate
Judge(s) shall have authority to act as Judge of said court. The Council
shall by appointment fill a vacancy in the office of the Judge for
the remainder of the unexpired term.
There shall be a Municipal Court Coordinator appointed by the
City Manager. The Municipal Court Coordinator, and such deputies as
the coordinator may appoint, shall act as Municipal Clerk and shall
have the power to administer oaths and affidavits, make certificates,
affix the seal of the court thereto and generally do and perform any
and all acts usual and necessary performed by clerks and deputies
of municipal courts.