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<br /> 122 <br /> ORDINANCE 1985-55 <br /> AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE <br /> CITY OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS, AMENDING <br /> CHAPTER 17 OF THE SAN MARCOS CODE OF <br /> ORDINANCES BY ADDING SECTION 17-7 <br /> PROVIDING FOR ANNUAL EVALUATIONS OF <br /> MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES¡ ESTABLISHING <br /> CRITERIA FOR THOSE EVALUATIONSt AND, <br /> DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. <br /> BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN <br /> MARCOS, TEXAS: <br /> SECTION 1. That Chapter 17 of the San Marcos Code of <br /> Ordinances be amended by the addition of Section 17-7 as <br /> follows: <br /> Sec. 17-7. Evaluation of municipal court judges. <br /> A. The Mayor shall appoint a committee of three <br /> members of the City Council to evaluate the <br /> Municipal Court Judges. The committee shall <br /> be assisted and advised by independent legal <br /> counsel retained by the City Council solely <br /> for the purpose of the evaluations. The first <br /> evaluation shall be completed on or: before <br /> September 1, 1985. Subsequent evaluations <br /> shall be completed once every year thereafter <br /> on or before September 1. Evaluations of the <br /> judges should include regular (at least <br /> monthly) courtroom observation by committee <br /> members. <br /> B. The following concerns shall be addressed in <br /> the evaluation of Municipal Court Judges: <br /> (1) A judge should uphold the integrity and <br /> independence of the judiciary. <br /> (2) A judge should avoid impropriety and the <br /> appearance of impropriety in all <br /> activities. <br /> (3) A judge should perform the duties of <br /> judicial office impartially and <br /> diligently. <br /> (4) A judge should refrain from political <br /> activity inappropriate to judicial <br /> office. <br /> (5) A judge should dispense justice without <br /> consideration of his/her extra-judicial <br /> legal activities or business <br /> involvements. If such activities or <br /> involvements create conflict which <br /> hinders a judge's impartial judgment, <br /> then recusal by that judge is proper. <br /> (6) A judge should have a thorough knowledge <br /> of state law misdemeanor offenses and of <br /> city ordinances. <br /> (7) A judge should be responsive to the <br /> questions and concerns of prosecutors, <br /> defendants, witnesses, and the City <br /> Council. <br />