(a) There
shall be created a municipal court system for the city.
(b) Upon
creation of the court system, there shall be a municipal judge appointed
by the city council to serve a two-year term and will be responsible
for the enforcement of city ordinances.
(c) A
court clerk shall be appointed by the city council and will serve
a two-year term and will be responsible for keeping of the court records
and docket book, and the collection of fines.
(d) There
will be the appointment of a court prosecutor as well as a person
to serve warrants.
(e) The
imposing of penalties and fines for violations of city ordinances
shall become enforceable and shall be implemented thereof [by] judgment.
(Ordinance 232-010906 adopted 1/9/06)
(a) Being
a general-law city and by Government Code section 29.004(b), there
is [authorized] by the adoption of this section the appointment of
a municipal judge.
(b) The
appointed judge shall serve a two-year term and will be responsible
for the enforcement of the city ordinances and other laws as they
pertain to the city and not in conflict with the state.
(c) Oaths
may be administered by a judge of a municipal court and the judge
may give a certificate of the fact in a matter pertaining to the duty
of the court.
(d) The
appointee to judge for the city municipal court shall complete successfully
a 32-hour course in the performance of his duties within one year
from the date of appointment and must complete a minimum of 12 hours
each calendar year following the calendar year in which the initial
course was taken. The course may completed in an accredited state-supported
school of higher education or in a continuing education course, program,
seminar, or law school or law enforcement school approved by the state
judicial council. In certain cases, the state judicial council on
proper application may grant waivers or extensions of the minimum
educational or reporting requirements.
(Ordinance 234-040306 adopted 4/3/06; Ordinance 235-010807 adopted 1/8/07; Ordinance
11022020-01 adopted 11/2/20; Ordinance 09202022-01 adopted 9/6/22)
(a) There
is hereby created and designated the position of court clerk to serve
in the city municipal court.
(b) The
designated court clerk will be under the supervision of the municipal
judge and city council.
(c) The
court clerk shall keep the minutes of court proceedings, issue all
process, and generally perform all duties as the court clerk as may
be applicable. Basic duties will include administering oaths to persons
filing complaints before the court; processing traffic citations,
parking citations, and all other complaints; preparing court process
as directed by the judge; transmitting fines and pleas received to
the municipal judge for case disposition; receiving appearance bonds
from persons charged with offenses in municipal court; maintaining
accurate records for the court including scheduling cases for a hearing
according to court policy; processing fees and fines; and any and
all other administerial duties that may be assigned by the municipal
judge and/or city ordinance.
(d) The
designated court clerk is required to have a high school diploma or
equivalent, and must obtain court clerk certification within one year
of appointment.
(Ordinance 241-060407 adopted 6/4/07; Ordinance 241-08132007-16 adopted 6/6/16; Ordinance
11022020-02 adopted 11/2/20; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
The municipal court shall have jurisdiction within the territorial
limits of the city of all criminal cases arising under the ordinances
of the city, and shall also have concurrent jurisdiction with the
justice of the peace for the precinct in which the city is situated
for all criminal cases arising under the laws of this state in which
punishment is by fine only and with a maximum of such fine not to
exceed $2,000 in all cases arising under municipal ordinances that
govern fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, other
than the dumping of refuse; $4,000 in cases arising under municipal
ordinances that govern the dumping of refuse; or $500 in all other
cases arising under a municipal ordinance and which violations occur
within the territorial limits of the city.
(1984 Code, sec. 2.21; Ordinance
adopting 2023 Code)