This article shall be cited as the municipal court division ordinance.
(Ordinance 1168, sec. 7.301, adopted 1/20/15)
This article is adopted so that the city may promote the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare within the city through the enforcement of the city’s ordinances and applicable state laws in municipal court.
(Ordinance 1168, sec. 7.302, adopted 1/20/15)
The city municipal court is hereby divided into the following divisions:
(1)
General state law division.
Cases involving any state law offenses, including but not limited to Transportation Code, Penal Code and Health and Safety Code violations, shall be adjudicated by the general state law division of the city municipal court.
(2)
City code enforcement division.
Cases involving any city ordinance violation shall be adjudicated by the city code enforcement division of the city municipal court.
(Ordinance 1168, sec. 7.303, adopted 1/20/15)
As established by the city home rule charter, the presiding judge and associate judges are appointed by the city council and the presiding judge shall be an eligible voter of the city. An associate judge appointed to preside over the city code division shall be a magistrate with the same powers as the presiding judge.
(Ordinance 1168, sec. 7.304, adopted 1/20/15)
(a)
Unless specifically altered by resolution of the city council, the general state law division of the city municipal court shall be presided over by the presiding judge and the city code enforcement division shall be presided over by an associate judge.
(b)
Judges are not authorized to transfer cases, exchange benches, or preside over any division other than the one as appointed by the council, unless expressly authorized by resolution of the city council.
(c)
Judges may temporarily be reassigned divisions by the municipal court clerk in cases of sickness, absence, or vacation to avoid the court date itself from being rescheduled.
(Ordinance 1168, sec. 7.305, adopted 1/20/15)