The city council hereby establishes the municipal court as a
municipal court of record in order to provide a more efficient disposition
of cases arising in the city, and in order to more effectively enforce
the ordinances of the city. The municipal court shall become a court
of record from and after the effective date of this division, and
shall be known as “The Municipal Court of Record in the City
of Reno.”
(Ordinance 103-04, sec. 1, adopted 2/2/04; Ordinance 2017-03, sec. 1, adopted 6/19/17)
This municipal court of record is established pursuant to the
authority granted in subchapter A, chapter 30, of the Government Code
of the State of Texas, known as the Uniform Municipal Courts of Record
Act, and the terms set forth therein are hereby adopted governing
the operation of said court.
(Ordinance 103-04, sec. 2, adopted 2/2/04; Ordinance 2017-03, sec. 2, adopted 6/19/17)
The court shall have concurrent jurisdiction with any justice
court in any precinct in which the city is located in criminal cases
that arise within the city and are punishable only by fine.
(Ordinance 103-04, sec. 3, adopted 2/2/04; Ordinance 2017-03, sec. 3, adopted 6/19/17)
The municipal court of record shall be presided over by a municipal
judge who shall be appointed by the city council for a term of four
(4) years. The term of the municipal judge shall commence immediately
upon the passage of this division and the provision of all the necessary
structures for the proper operation of a municipal court of record.
Such term shall then extend two (2) years beyond the initial date
of such establishment. The municipal judge must be a licensed attorney
in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and licensed to practice
law in the State of Texas and must have two (2) or more years of experience
in the practice of law in Texas. The judge must be a citizen of the
United States and of the State of Texas.
(Ordinance 103-04, sec. 4, adopted 2/2/04; Ordinance 2017-03, sec. 4, adopted 6/19/17)
The city council shall appoint, upon consultation with the municipal
court judge, a clerk of the municipal court of record who shall perform
duties in accordance with state law and city ordinances. During proceedings
of the court, the clerk and other court personnel shall serve at the
direction of the municipal court judge. At all other times they shall
serve at the direction and the supervision of the city council, who
shall have the authority to remove the court clerk or other court
personnel according to the rules set forth in the city’s personnel
policies.
(Ordinance 103-04, sec. 5, adopted 2/2/04; Ordinance 2017-03, sec. 5, adopted 6/19/17; Ordinance
adopting 2020 Code)
The municipal court clerk shall appoint a court reporter who
must meet the qualifications provided by law for official court reporters.
The court reporter or court staff may use written notes, transcribing
equipment, video or audio recording equipment, or a combination of
those methods to record the proceedings of the court. The court reporter
or court staff are not required to record testimony in any case unless
the judge or one of the parties requests a record in writing, and
files the request with the court before trial. If a record is made,
it shall be kept for the twenty (20) day period beginning the day
after the last day of the court proceeding, trial or denial of motion
for new trial, whichever occurs last. The court reporter is not required
to be present during proceedings of the municipal court of record,
provided that proceedings that are required to be recorded are recorded
by a good quality electronic recording device.
(Ordinance 103-04, sec. 7, adopted 2/2/04; Ordinance 2017-03, sec. 6, adopted 6/19/17)
The municipal judge shall supervise and control the operation
and clerical functions of the administrative department of the municipal
court of record, including the court’s personnel, during the
proceedings or docket of the court. At all other times, the operation
and clerical functions of the administrative department of the municipal
court of record shall be under the supervision and direction of the
city council.
(Ordinance 103-04, sec. 8, adopted 2/2/04; Ordinance 2017-03, sec. 7, adopted 6/19/17)
The municipal judge shall supervise the selection of persons
for jury service.
(Ordinance 103-04, sec. 9, adopted 2/2/04; Ordinance 2017-03, sec. 8, adopted 6/19/17)
In the event of an appeal, the appellant shall pay a transcript preparation fee in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code. The transcript preparation fee does not include the fee for any actual transcript of the proceedings. The clerk shall note the payment of the fee on the docket of the court. If the case is reversed on appeal, the fee shall be refunded to the appellant. In addition to the transcript preparation fee, the fee for the actual transcript of the proceedings and statement of facts must be paid by the appellant, pursuant to Government Code section 30.00014 and section 30.00019.
(Ordinance 103-04, sec. 10, adopted 2/2/04; Ordinance 2017-03, sec. 9, adopted 6/19/17; Ordinance
adopting 2020 Code)
