A city court, presided over by the city judge, on a full or part time basis as provided by ordinance is hereby established, which shall have jurisdiction over violations of the ordinances of the city. The council shall appoint and fix the salary of the city judge for terms of two (2) years, and such salary shall not be changed during a term of office. The council may impeach and remove the city judge for neglect or refusal to enforce the ordinances of the city or for other misconduct in office or neglect of duty, but any person so removed may appeal to the circuit court and thence to the supreme court of the state. The city attorney, or an assistant city attorney, shall be the prosecuting officer of the court. The city judge shall recuse himself from any case or proceeding in which such judge:
(a) Is interested,
(b) Is related to the defendant by blood or marriage within the third degree, or
(c) Believes, for any reason, that he will be prejudiced.
Such a case of proceeding, as well as cases and proceedings during the absence or disability of the city judge, shall be heard by an acting city judge appointed by the mayor. The mayor may remove the acting city judge at any time without cause. The council shall, by ordinance, fix the compensation of an acting city judge. The city judge shall have authority to impose fines, costs, forfeitures, and imprisonment in the city jail or workhouse, as provided by ordinance. Warrants, subpoenas, and other processes of the city court shall be executed by police officers of the city, who for such purposes shall have the same powers and authority as a sheriff executing process of a circuit court. [As replaced by Priv. Acts 2007, ch. 45 § 9]