(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)