(a) Municipal court judges shall be selected and appointed or reappointed for a term of two years, commencing April 1 of even-numbered years. The appointment or reappointment of substitute judges shall be for a term of two years from the date of their appointment or reappointment and shall be initiated upon the recommendations of the chief judge, concurred in by the municipal court advisory committee.
(b) The city council shall appoint one of the municipal judges as chief judge. The chief judge shall have all of the powers and duties of a presiding judge as set forth in this subsection (b), and in addition, those cited in the Uniform Municipal Courts of Record Act, as amended by the city court of record statute. The chief judge shall:
(1) Maintain administrative oversight of the municipal judges;
(2) Establish work rules for the administration of the municipal courts, including establishing rules for maintaining uniformity in procedures in the municipal courts;
(3) Establish work hours for each municipal judge, including the hours during which each judge shall be present in the office and on the bench;
(4) Call periodic meetings of all municipal court judges and substitute judges to review the procedures which establish uniformity of procedures in the court system, and to discuss any other issues of importance for the administration of the municipal court;
(5) Schedule and approve vacation and other absences for each municipal judge;
(6) Assign the duties and schedules of each municipal judge, including assigning judges or substitute judges to exchange benches and to act for each other in a proceeding pending in a court, if necessary, for the expeditious disposition of business in the courts;
(7) Assign municipal judges to classes and courses on an as needed basis;
(8) Provide quarterly case adjudication reports for each municipal judge to the Ad Hoc Municipal Courts Committee;
(9) Receive and investigate, as needed, judicial complaints and forward the result of any investigation to the Ad Hoc Municipal Courts Advisory Committee; and
(10) Conduct performance evaluations of municipal judges twice during each year of the municipal judge’s term, and forward the evaluations to the Ad Hoc Municipal Courts Advisory Committee for review after each evaluation is performed.
(c) The city council shall appoint one of the municipal judges as deputy chief judge. The appointment of the deputy chief judge shall be recommended by the chief judge to the Ad Hoc Municipal Court Advisory Committee (Committee). If approved by the Committee, the recommendation shall be placed on the City Council's agenda for consideration and approval. The deputy chief judge shall have all of the powers and duties of a presiding judge as set forth in this subsection (c), and in addition, those cited in the Uniform Municipal Courts of Record Act, as amended by the city court of record statute. The deputy chief judge shall:
(1) Assist the Chief Judge in supervising judicial staff, which includes prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and, making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
(2) Assists in managing all administrative judicial services and activities. Recommends and administers policies and procedures; and prepares docketing calendar for jury courts and the Attorney plea docket as assigned by the Chief Judge.
(3) Participates in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of judicial court service delivery methods and procedures.
(4) Assists in monitoring and evaluating the quality, responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of judicial court methods and procedures.
(5) Presides over jury and non-jury trials; and instructs jury panel regarding applicable laws, procedures and sentences or fines if offender is convicted.
(6) Reviews new laws, major court decisions and other pertinent information relevant to the revision of Court procedures and operations.
(7) Assists in explaining, justifying, and defending Municipal Court programs, policies and activities; and negotiating and resolving sensitive and controversial issues.
(8) Issues search and arrest warrants; sets and forfeits bail for Class C misdemeanors falling under municipal court jurisdiction; and sets bail for felonies and misdemeanors.
(9) Processes alias and capias warrant queues, administrative dockets, cash dockets and miscellaneous dockets.
(10) Performs other related duties as required and assigned by the Chief Judge.
(11) Adheres to assigned work schedule as outlined in the Department and City attendance policies and procedures; ensures all behaviors comply with the City's Personnel Rules and Regulations.
(d) In order to coordinate the prosecution of all cases in the municipal courts and appeals taken therefrom, the city attorney shall designate one of the assistant city attorneys as chief prosecutor.
(Ord. 9509, § 1, passed 11-5-1985; Ord. 14147, § 1, passed 3-28-2000; Ord. 21380-08-2014, § 1, passed 8-19-2014; Ord. 21687-03-2015, § 1, passed 3-17-2015; Ord. 23546-01-2019, § 1, passed 1-29-2019)