HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 197-2005 Repeal & New Municipal Court.pdfCITY OF ANNA, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 197-2005
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ANNA, TEXAS, REPEALING ORDINANCE NO.
102-90 AND ORDINANCE NO. 96-01; AND AT THE SAME TIME ESTABLISHING
THE CITY OF ANNA MUNICIPAL COURT, THE POSITION OF MUNICIPAL COURT
JUDGE, AND THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANNA, TEXAS:
Section 1. Municipal Court established.
This Ordinance creates the City of Anna Municipal Court ("the Court").
Section 2. Jurisdiction, powers and duties.
(a) The Court has exclusive original jurisdiction within the City of Anna's territorial
limits and property owned by the City of Anna in its extraterritorial jurisdiction in
all criminal cases that:
(1) arise under:
(A) the ordinances of the municipality; or
(B) a resolution, rule, or order of a joint board operating an airport
under Section 22.074, Transportation Code; and
(2) are punishable by a fine not to exceed:
(A) $2,000 in all cases arising under municipal ordinances or
resolutions, rules, or orders of a joint board that govern fire safety,
zoning, or public health and sanitation, including dumping of refuse;
or
(B) $500 in all other cases arising under a municipal ordinance or a
resolution, rule, or order of a joint board.
(b) The Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the justice court of a precinct in which
the municipality is located in all criminal cases arising under state law that arise
within the municipality's territorial limits or property owned by the municipality
located in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction and that:
(1) are punishable only by a fine, as defined in Subsection (c); or
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(2) arise under Chapter 106, Alcoholic Beverage Code, and do not include
confinement as an authorized sanction.
(c) In this section, an offense which is punishable by "fine only" is defined as an
offense that is punishable by fine and such sanctions, if any, as authorized by
statute not consisting of confinement in jail or imprisonment.
(d) The fact that a conviction in a municipal court has as a consequence the
imposition of a penalty or sanction by an agency or entity other than the court,
such as a denial, suspension, or revocation of a privilege, does not affect the
original jurisdiction of the Court.
(e) The Court has jurisdiction in the forfeiture and final judgment of all bail bonds and
personal bonds taken in criminal cases of which the court has jurisdiction.
(f) The Court has all the powers and duties as are now, or as may be, prescribed by
state law.
Section 3. Municipal Court Judge appointment and qualifications.
(a) Upon the City Manager's recommendation, the City Council may appoint or reject
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership of the City Council one
or more Municipal Judge(s) of the Court as may be necessary.
(b) A person appointed must be a competent, duly qualified attorney licensed and
practicing for at least two years in the State of Texas.
(c) However, in the event a duly qualified attorney is not available, the City Council
may then select the most qualified person to be the Municipal Judge(s).
(d) The Municipal Judge(s) must be appointed to a term of two years and may be
appointed to additional consecutive terms upon completing a term of office.
(e) The appointment of the Municipal Judge(s) may be terminated, without cause, at
any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership of the City
Council.
(f) The Municipal Judge(s) may receive compensation as determined by the City
Council.
(g) In the event of failure of any Municipal Judge to perform his or her duties, the
Mayor may act in the Municipal Judge's place and stead (and in the event of a
vacancy, until a Municipal Judge is appointed by the City Council to fill the
vacancy).
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(h) If the Mayor acts as Municipal Judge, the Mayor may be compensated at the
same salary, if any, as the Municipal Judge for whom the Mayor is acting.
Section 4. Municipal Court Clerk and Deputy Clerk appointments.
(a) The Clerk and Deputy Clerk(s) of the Court have the power to administer oaths,
certify affidavits, make certificates, affix the seal of the Court, and perform all
usual and necessary clerical acts in conducting the business of the Court(s)
including but not limited to, the keeping of records and accounts of the Court(s).
(b) Upon the City Secretary's recommendation, the City Council may appoint or
reject by the affirmative vote of a majority of the City Council a Clerk and one or
more Deputy Clerk(s) as may be necessary.
(c) The Municipal Clerk and any Deputy Clerk(s) may receive compensation as
determined by the City Council.
(d) The Municipal Clerk and any Deputy Clerk(s) report to the Judge regarding court
matters, but are administratively responsible to the City Administration.
(e) The Municipal Clerk and any Deputy Clerk(s) are at -will employees serving at the
pleasure of the City Council.
Section 5. Municipal Court prosecutor.
The Municipal Court prosecutor is the City Attorney or any deputy City Attorney as
designated by the City Attorney.
Section 6. Municipal Court bailiff and warrant officer.
The Municipal Court bailiff is the City's Chief of Police
designated by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police
designated by the Chief of Police is the warrant officer
papers issued by the court when requested by the Judge.
Section 7. Judge vacancy.
or any City police officer as
or any City police officer as
and must serve all process or
The City Council must by appointment fill a vacancy in the office of Municipal Judge for
the remainder of the unexpired term of office only.
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Section 8. Sitting for disqualified or recused Judge.
(a) If a judge is disqualified or recused in a pending case, the judge of another
municipal court located in an adjacent municipality may sit in the case.
(b) A municipal court judge may not sit in a case for another municipal court judge
under this section if either party objects to the judge. An objection under this
subsection must be filed before the first hearing or trial, including pretrial
hearings, over which the judge is to preside.
Section 9. Jury fee.
A defendant convicted by a jury must pay a jury fee of three dollars ($3.00). A
defendant who requests a trial by jury and who withdraws the request not earlier than
24 hours before the time of trial must pay a jury fee of three dollars ($3.00), if the
defendant is convicted of the offense or final disposition of the defendant's case is
deferred.
Section 10. Prosecution fee.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor
or a gambling offense shall pay a fee of $25.00 for the trying of the case by a
prosecuting attomey—other than a district or county attomey—appointed by the
Court to represent the State.
(b) No fee for the trying of a case may be charged against a defendant prosecuted in
a justice court for violation of a penal statute or of the Uniform Act Regulating
Traffic on Highways.
(c) If two or more defendants are tried jointly, only one fee may be charged under
this article. If the defendants sever and are tried separately, each defendant shall
pay the fee.
(d) A defendant is liable for fees imposed by Subsection (a) if the defendant is
convicted of an offense and:
(1) the defendant does not appeal the conviction; or
(2) the conviction is affirmed on appeal.
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PASSED by the following vote of the City Council of the City of Anna on this the
day of '�ch . 2005.
AYES 5
NAYS O
ABSTENTIONS O
ATTEST:
AUCC&RE4URY
APPROVED:
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ATTEST:
AUCC&RE4URY
APPROVED:
ORD 197-2005 Amending Municipal Court.doc Page 5 of 5 03/22/2005