§ 7-4. Municipal court.
(a)
Generally. There shall be a court known as the municipal court of the city of Eagle Pass, which court shall be deemed always open for the trial of causes, with such jurisdiction, powers and duties as are given and prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas.
(b)
Judge of municipal court. The municipal court shall be presided over by a magistrate who shall be known as the judge of the municipal court. He shall be appointed and supervised by a majority of the city council for a term of two (2) years, but he shall be subject to removal by the council for cause, after notice and hearing.
(c)
Assistant municipal court judge. The majority of the city council shall appoint a qualified person to act in place of the judge of municipal court in the event that he is temporarily unable to act for any reason. This assistant municipal court judge shall receive the same rate of pay as the municipal court judge based on a pro-rata basis, for services rendered.
(d)
Additional courts. The city council shall have the power to create and establish or abolish additional municipal courts if the need arises, and the majority of the city council may appoint one (1) or more judges of each municipal court, each of whom shall be a magistrate.
(e)
Clerk of the municipal court. The city manager shall appoint the municipal court clerk as head of the municipal court department who shall manage the administrative functions of said department. The clerk of said court and his deputies shall have the power to administer oaths and affidavits, make certificates, affix the seal of said court thereto, and generally do and perform any and all acts usual and necessary by the clerk of courts in issuing process of said courts and conducting the business thereof.
(f)
Costs, process, and procedure in the municipal court. The council shall determine what costs, if any, shall be charged for proceedings in, and for all process issued by, said court. The style of all writs issued out of the municipal court shall be in the name of the State of Texas. All jurors shall be residents of said city and otherwise possess the same qualifications as jurors in the state courts.
(g)
Fine. Fine schedules shall be in accordance with those established for municipal courts by state law.
(Ord. No. 02-32, § 1, 11-7-02; elect. of 2-1-03)