1. There shall be one Judge of the Municipal Court, who shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the consent of the City Council; the Mayor may be designated as Judge upon approval of said City Council. (See Chapter 11 of this code of ordinances.)
2. The Municipal Judge shall be at least 25 years of age, a resident of the city (unless a licensed attorney), have a high school education (or the equivalent) and be of good moral character. A Judge who is a licensed attorney may engage in the practice of law in other courts, but shall not accept employment inconsistent with duties as a Municipal Judge or arising out of facts which give rise to, or are connected with, cases within the jurisdiction of the Court pending therein, or which might become the subject of proceedings therein.
3. The official term of the Municipal Judge shall be until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.
4. The Judge of the Municipal Court shall receive a salary as prescribed by the City Council, paid in the same manner as the salaries of other municipal employees.
5. The Municipal Judge may prescribe rules, consistent with the State Constitution and laws and this code of ordinances, for the proper conduct of the business of the Municipal Court.
6. There may be appointed an Alternate Judge of the Municipal Court, possessed of the same qualifications as the Municipal Judge, as set out in subsection 2. above.
a. Said appointment shall be for the same term and made in the same manner as the Municipal Judge. The Acting Judge shall sit in the Municipal Court in any case where the Municipal Judge is absent from the Court, unable to act as Municipal Judge in a case.
b. If, at any time, there is not a Municipal Judge or Alternate Judge, duly appointed and qualified, available to sit as Municipal Judge, the City Council may appoint some person possessing the qualifications required by this section for the Municipal Judge, who shall preside as Acting Judge over the Municipal Court in the disposition of pending matters, until such time as a Municipal Judge or Alternate Judge shall be available.
7. An Alternate Judge or an Acting Judge shall be paid, as prescribed by the City Council, for each day devoted to the performance of all duties, except that, for any month, the total payments so calculated shall not exceed the salary of the Municipal Judge. An Alternate or Acting Judge who sits for an entire month shall receive the amount specified by the City Council as the salary of the Municipal Judge.
8. Judges shall be subject to removal from office by the City Council, for the causes prescribed by the State Constitution and laws for removal from public offices. Provisions of the State Administrative Procedure Act governing individual proceedings (75 O.S. §§ 308 through 317 and any amendments or additions thereto in effect at the time of the hearing) shall govern removal proceedings hereunder, so far as they can be made applicable.
9. A vacancy in the office of Municipal Judge shall occur if the incumbent dies, resigns, ceases to possess the qualifications for the office, or is removed. Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of Municipal Judge, the Mayor shall appoint a successor to complete the unexpired term, using the same procedure as for an original appointment.