(A) Office of Judge created. There is hereby created the office of Judge of the Municipal Court who shall have all the powers and authority as granted by state law and the ordinances of this city, and shall perform all the duties as required by state law and the ordinances of this city. The Mayor shall serve as Ex Officio Judge until a Judge is appointed.
(B) Appointment of Judge; temporary replacement.
(1) Pursuant to Charter § 4.04, the City Council shall appoint by two-thirds vote of its full membership such municipal judges of the Municipal Court as may be necessary, all of whom shall be competent, duly qualified attorneys licensed and practicing for at least two years in the State of Texas. In the event a duly qualified attorney is not available, the City Council shall then select a qualified person to be the Municipal Judge. The Municipal Judges of the Municipal Court shall be appointed to a term of two years and may be appointed to additional consecutive terms upon completion of his or her term of office.
(2) Pursuant to Charter § 4.04, in the event of disability or absence of any Municipal Judge, the City Council shall appoint a qualified person as provided in division (B)(1) above to act in his or her place. The appointee shall be compensated at the same salary, if any, as the Municipal Judge for whom he or she is acting.
(C) Compensation. The amount of compensation to the Judge shall be set from time to time by the City Council and paid out of the city treasury.
(D) Removal of Judge. The Judge of the Municipal Court may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the full membership of the City Council for incompetency, corruption, misconduct, or malfeasance in office, after due notice and an opportunity to be heard in his or her defense. The Judge of the Municipal Court may also be removed from office by a City Council resolution declaring a lack of confidence in the Judge; provided, that two-thirds of the full membership of the City Council vote in favor of such resolution.
(E) Oath requirement for Judge. The Judge of the Municipal Court, prior to taking office, shall take the oath of office required by the state Constitution and state laws. This is the oath required by the state laws for Mayors of cities.
(`88 Code, Ch. 8, § 14.02) (Ord. 270, passed 3-28-89)