(A) Election; term of office. The presiding officer of the City Court shall be the City Judge who shall be elected by the legal voters of the city at the time and in the same manner as other city officers are elected for a term of four years and shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified. His or her term shall begin at 12:00 p.m. on January 1 following his or her election.
(Prior Code, § 36.035)
(B) Powers and duties.
(1) The City Judge shall have power to assess a fine in a sum not exceeding an amount as set by the city from time to time for the violation of any law. He or she may, in addition, order imprisonment, as a part of the sentence, for any period not exceeding six months in the county jail.
(2) The City Judge shall have power to suspend or withhold judgment in any case where any person shall have been convicted or shall have entered a plea of guilty, as now provided by law for circuit and criminal courts.
(3) The City Judge shall have power and authority to make and adopt rules of Court not repugnant to the laws of the state. He or she shall have all powers incident to a court of record in relation to the attendance of witnesses, the punishment of contempts and enforcing its orders. He or she shall have full authority to administer oaths and to authenticate records of the Court.
(4) In case of a temporary absence or inability of the regular City Judge to act, he or she shall appoint any practicing and reputable attorney to preside in his or her absence, who shall receive compensation allowed special judges in the Circuit Court, to be paid out of the city treasury on the certificate of the regular judge and the warrant of the City Controller.
(Prior Code, § 36.036)