Ord 2007-046 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(c) Concurrent jurisdiction with a district court or a county court at law under Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Texas Local Government Code, as amended, within the city's territorial limits and property owned by the city located in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing health and safety and nuisance abatement ordinances; (d) Authority to issue: (1) Search warrants for the purpose of investigating a health and safety or nuisance abatement ordinance violation; and (2) Seizure warrants for the purpose of securing, removing, or demolishing the offending property and removing the debris from the premises. Sec. 55.03 Judges Appointment. (a) The Municipal Court of Record is presided over by the presiding municipal judge who shall be appointed by the city council by ordinance for a term of two years and who must be at minimum: a licensed attorney in good standing in Texas; a citizen of the United States; a resident of the state; and have two or more years experience in the practice of law in this state. A person may not serve as a municipal judge if the person is employed as an employee of the city. A municipal judge who accepts employment with the city vacates the judicial office. (b) The municipal court judge appointed under Section 4.03 of the City Charter shall be known as and serve as the "presiding judge." Any alternate municipal court judge appointed under the City Charter shall be known as and serve as an "associate municipal judge." Associate municipal judges shall meet the same qualifications as the presiding municipal judge. (c) The presiding judge and associate municipal judges appointed hereunder are entitled to receive compensation and other benefits as set by the city council. (d) The compensation of the presiding judge and associate municipal judges may not be diminished during the term of office and may not be based directly or indirectly on fines, fees or other cost that the judges are required by law to collect during a term of office. (e) A judge of a municipal court of record may be removed from office by the city council for the reasons stated and by the procedures provided for the removal of officials in Section 3.17 of the City Charter or as provided by Section 1-a, Article V, Texas Constitution. (f) In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of presiding judge or associate municipal judge, the city council shall appoint a qualified person to fill the office for the remainder of the unexpired term. Sec. 55.04 Powers and duties of municipal judges. (a) If more than one division of the municipal court of record is created, the judge of each division may at any time exchange benches and sit and act for each other in any pending case, matter, or proceeding. (b) The presiding judge may assign an associate municipal judge to act for the presiding judge who is temporarily unable to act for any reason. An associate municipal judge has all the powers 2