A municipal court of record shall exist in the city to be known as the "Municipal Court of Record in the City of North Richland Hills" with two divisions to be known as "Division No. 1" and "Division No. 2."
(Ordinance 3784, § 1, adopted 3/6/2023)
In addition to the jurisdiction provided by general law for municipal courts of record in accordance with V.T.C.A., Government Code § 30.00005 and for criminal cases arising under ordinances authorized by V.T.C.A., Local Government Code §§ 215.072, 217.042, 341.903 and 401.002, the Municipal Court of Record in the City of North Richland Hills shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the justice court in any precinct in which the city is located in criminal cases that arise within the territorial limits of the city.
The courts also shall have:
(2)
Concurrent jurisdiction with a district court or a county court at law under V.T.C.A., Local Government Code, Chapter 54, Subchapter B, within the municipality's territorial limits and property owned by the municipality located in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing health and safety and nuisance abatement ordinances;
(3)
Civil jurisdiction and administrative enforcement authority under V.T.C.A., Local Government Code, Chapter 54, Subchapter C, within the municipality's territorial limits and property owned by the municipality located in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction, for the purpose of adjudication and quasi-judicial enforcement of health and safety and nuisance abatement ordinances;
(4)
Concurrent jurisdiction with a district court and a justice court over expunction proceedings relating to the arrest of a person for an offense punishable by fine only; and
(5)
Authority to issue:
a.
Search warrants for the purpose of investigating a health and safety or nuisance abatement ordinance violation; and
b.
Seizure warrants for the purpose of securing, removing, or demolishing the offending property and removing the debris from the premises.
The clerk of the municipal court is authorized to charge and collect fees and costs for litigation and administrative hearings filed in municipal court pursuant to V.T.C.A., Local Government Code, Chapter 54, Subchapter B and Subchapter C. The fees and costs charged and collected will be consistent with those authorized by law to be collected by a clerk of a county court. |
(Ordinance 3784, § 1, adopted 3/6/2023)
The Municipal Court of Record in the City of North Richland Hills shall be presided over by one or more judges in each Division, meeting the requirements of V.T.C.A., Government Code § 30.00006. The term of office of the municipal judges shall be for two years. Each judge shall be appointed by the city council by ordinance, which shall also include the salary for the term for which such judge is appointed. If a vacancy occurs during a judge's term, the city council may appoint a person to fill the office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(Ordinance 3784, § 1, adopted 3/6/2023)
(a)
The city council may appoint one or more qualified persons to be available to serve as associate judges for either division of the municipal court. The associate judges shall have all the powers and shall discharge all the duties of a municipal judge while serving as such.
(b)
The city council may appoint one or more qualified persons to be available to serve for a municipal judge or for an associate judge who is temporarily absent due to illness, family death, continuing legal or judicial education programs, or any other reason. The municipal judges shall select one of such appointees to serve during his or her absence. The substitute judges shall have all the powers and shall discharge all the duties of a municipal judge while serving as such.
(Ordinance 3784, § 1, adopted 3/6/2023)
The city council shall by ordinance, provide for the appointment of a clerk of the municipal court. The city manager shall provide in the annual budget for such other personnel, including marshals, deputy marshals, deputy clerks, and clerical staff. The clerk and other court personnel shall perform their duties under the direction of the municipal judge. The city manager or his designee shall hire, direct, supervise and remove all personnel authorized in the annual budget for the clerk's office, as he deems appropriate. The municipal court clerk or his deputy or as otherwise designated by the city manager shall supervise the selection of persons for jury service.
(Ordinance 3784, § 1, adopted 3/6/2023)
In lieu of a court reporter, proceedings in the municipal court shall, upon request, be recorded by a good quality electronic recording as authorized by V.T.C.A., Government Code § 30.00010.
(Ordinance 3784, § 1, adopted 3/6/2023)
The municipal court judges shall recommend to the city council the adoption of ordinances establishing rules and regulations concerning the practice and procedure for civil and criminal cases in the municipal court. The rules, regulations and amendments thereto, if any, shall not constitute a part of this Code. Copies thereof shall be maintained for public inspection and copying in the city secretary's office and the municipal court. With the consent of the municipal judges, the clerk of the municipal court may cause copies thereof to be published and make the same available at a cost that is equivalent to the cost of publication, provided that no fee shall be imposed for the first copy supplied to any indigent defendant who makes an affidavit that he is unable to pay the cost thereof.
(Ordinance 3784, § 1, adopted 3/6/2023)