Municipal Courts - Texas City Attorneys

Municipal Courts

by Alan Bojorquez

16th Annual Riley Fletcher

Basic Municipal Law Seminar

February 5, 2015

Austin, Texas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR ............................................................................................................................ 5

Article 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 6

¡ì17.01. General. ...................................................................................................................................... 6

¡ì17.02. Public Perception....................................................................................................................... 6

Article 2. Creation of Municipal Courts .................................................................................................. 6

¡ì17.03. Creation by Statute. .................................................................................................................. 6

¡ì17.04. Creation of Municipal Court of Record. ................................................................................. 6

¡ì17.05. No Special Term for Court. ...................................................................................................... 7

¡ì17.06. Court Seal................................................................................................................................... 7

¡ì17.07. Joint Courts. .............................................................................................................................. 7

Article 3. Jurisdiction ................................................................................................................................ 7

¡ì17.08. Exclusive Jurisdiction. .............................................................................................................. 7

¡ì17.09. Concurrent Jurisdiction............................................................................................................ 7

¡ì17.10. Concurrent Jurisdiction of Neighboring Courts. ................................................................... 7

¡ì17.11. Court May Impose Sanction Other than Fine in Some Cases. .............................................. 8

¡ì17.12. Jurisdiction Over Bonds. .......................................................................................................... 8

¡ì17.13. Jurisdiction Over Minors. ........................................................................................................ 8

Article 4. Judge .......................................................................................................................................... 8

¡ì17.14. Selection of Judge. ..................................................................................................................... 8

(a) Home-Rule. ................................................................................................................................... 8

(b) General-Law Municipality. ........................................................................................................... 8

(c) Reference to Judge as Recorder. ................................................................................................... 8

¡ì17.15. Term of Office............................................................................................................................ 8

¡ì17.16. Oaths........................................................................................................................................... 9

¡ì17.17. Report to Judicial Council. ....................................................................................................... 9

¡ì17.18. Recusal or Disqualification. ...................................................................................................... 9

¡ì17.19. Training of Municipal Judges. ................................................................................................. 9

(a) Training for Non-Lawyers. ........................................................................................................... 9

(b) Training for Lawyers. ................................................................................................................... 9

(c) Accreditation of Courses. ............................................................................................................ 10

(d) Reporting Training ...................................................................................................................... 10

(e) Waivers for Training ................................................................................................................... 10

Article 5. Municipal Court Clerk .......................................................................................................... 10

¡ì17.20. Selection of Clerk..................................................................................................................... 10

¡ì17.21. Term of Clerk. ......................................................................................................................... 10

¡ì17.22. Duties of Clerk. ........................................................................................................................ 10

¡ì17.23. Court Reporter. ....................................................................................................................... 10

Article 6. Complaint ................................................................................................................................ 11

¡ì17.24. Proceedings Commenced by Complaint................................................................................ 11

¡ì17.25. Requisites of Complaint. ......................................................................................................... 11

¡ì17.26. Objections Must be Timely. .................................................................................................... 12

¡ì17.27. Citizen Complaints. ................................................................................................................. 12

¡ì17.28. Statute of Limitations. ............................................................................................................. 12

¡ì17.29. Exceptions to Requirement for Complaint. .......................................................................... 12

Article 7. Procedural Issues .................................................................................................................... 13

¡ì17.30. Criminal Docket. ..................................................................................................................... 13

¡ì17.31. Service of Process. ................................................................................................................... 13

¡ì17.32. Bail. ........................................................................................................................................... 13

(a) Definition of Bail. ....................................................................................................................... 13

Municipal Courts

16th Annual Riley Fletcher Seminar

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? Bojorquez Law Firm, PC

February 5, 2015

(b) Bail Bonds................................................................................................................................... 13

¡ì17.33. Prosecutions. ............................................................................................................................ 14

¡ì17.34. Trials......................................................................................................................................... 14

¡ì17.35. Representation of Defendant. ................................................................................................. 14

¡ì17.36. Evidence. .................................................................................................................................. 14

¡ì17.37. Role of Jury. ............................................................................................................................. 14

¡ì17.38. Plea of Guilty or Nolo Contendere. ........................................................................................ 15

(a) In Person. .................................................................................................................................... 15

(b) By Mail. ...................................................................................................................................... 15

(c) Court Appearance May Be Avoided. .......................................................................................... 15

(d) Notice of Fine and Bond. ............................................................................................................ 15

¡ì17.39. Judgment and Confinement. .................................................................................................. 15

(a) Judgments and Sentences. ........................................................................................................... 15

(b) Confinement. ............................................................................................................................... 15

¡ì17.40. Appeals. .................................................................................................................................... 16

(a) Appeal to County Court. ............................................................................................................. 16

(b) Notice of Appeal. ........................................................................................................................ 16

(c) Record. ........................................................................................................................................ 16

(d) Disposition on Appeal................................................................................................................. 16

(e) Fines Go to Municipality ............................................................................................................ 16

(f) Courts of Appeals. ...................................................................................................................... 16

¡ì17.41. Court Costs and Financial Records. ...................................................................................... 16

(a) Clerk Responsible for Funds. ...................................................................................................... 16

(b) Municipal Court Costs. ............................................................................................................... 16

(c) Municipal Court Technology Fund. ............................................................................................ 17

(d) Municipal Court Building Security Fund.................................................................................... 17

(e) State Court Costs. ........................................................................................................................ 17

(f) Shared Fees. ................................................................................................................................ 18

¡ì17.42. Fines. ......................................................................................................................................... 18

¡ì17.43. Control of Money Collected by Court. .................................................................................. 18

(a) Assistance with Court Fees. ........................................................................................................ 18

(b) Internal Procedures. .................................................................................................................... 18

¡ì17.44. Payment by Credit Card......................................................................................................... 18

(a) Authorizing Credit Payment ....................................................................................................... 18

(b) Processing Fee. ........................................................................................................................... 18

(c) Service Charge for Collection. .................................................................................................... 19

(d) Collection of Credit Cards. ......................................................................................................... 19

¡ì17.45. Deferred Disposition................................................................................................................ 19

(a) Option for Deferred Disposition. ................................................................................................ 19

(b) Dismissal of Charge. ................................................................................................................... 19

(c) Option for Deferred Disposition of Traffic Offense. .................................................................. 19

(d) Dismissal of Traffic Charge. ....................................................................................................... 20

(e) Installments or Community Service. ........................................................................................... 20

(f) Failure to Complete. ................................................................................................................... 20

¡ì17.46. Ordinances May Not Conflict with State Constitution or Statutes..................................... 21

(a) Constitutional Preemption........................................................................................................... 21

(b) Statutory Preemption. ................................................................................................................. 21

(c) Culpable Mental State. ................................................................................................................ 21

¡ì17.47. No Quotas for Traffic Citations. ............................................................................................ 21

¡ì17.48. Arrest Warrants Issued by Municipal Court. ...................................................................... 21

Municipal Courts

16th Annual Riley Fletcher Seminar

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? Bojorquez Law Firm, PC

February 5, 2015

Municipal Courts

16th Annual Riley Fletcher Seminar

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? Bojorquez Law Firm, PC

February 5, 2015

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alan Bojorquez, Principal

Bojorquez Law Firm, P.C. (Austin, Texas)

Alan represents cities across the state as City Attorney or Special Counsel. Before going into

private practice, he was a staff attorney for the Texas Municipal League. Alan graduated from

Texas Tech University with his Bachelor of Arts in English, Master of Public Administration,

and Doctor of Jurisprudence. He is on the Board of Directors of the Texas City Attorneys

Association, and is Texas Chairperson for the International Municipal Lawyers Association.

Alan is the 2015 Chairperson of the University of Texas School of Law¡¯s annual Land Use

Planning Conference. He authors the TEXAS MUNICIPAL LAW & PROCEDURE MANUAL (6th Ed.).

November 20, 2014

Municipal Courts

16th Annual Riley Fletcher Seminar

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? Bojorquez Law Firm, PC

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