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)
