(a) Municipal Court and Judge. There shall be a Municipal Court and a judge thereof who shall be appointed by, and hold office at the will and pleasure of, the Council. He or she shall be a member of the Monongalia County Bar.
In the event of the temporary absence or disability of the Municipal Judge, the Mayor shall appoint a person similarly qualified to serve as Municipal Judge during such absence or disability. Such appointment shall remain in effect until the next regular meeting of the Council at which time the Council shall appoint a similarly qualified person to serve during the period of such temporary absence or disability.
(b) Powers and Duties. The Judge of the Municipal Court shall preside over the Municipal Court and shall have all of the judicial powers, authorities, and duties granted to police and/or municipal courts by the laws of the State. The Municipal Judge shall have power to issue warrants, upon complaint under oath of any person or officer, for the arrest of anyone charged with any Municipal offense within the jurisdiction of the Court or for search and seizure in connection with violation of a Municipal ordinance. The Municipal Judge shall try and determine all cases over which the Court has jurisdiction and, within the limits prescribed by ordinance or general law, shall have power to punish by fine, imprisonment or both. The Municipal Judge shall have power to summons persons or subpoena witnesses for the trial of any case before the Court, to compel the attendance of police officers of the City or to require the Chief of Police to enforce all judgments or orders entered by the Court in the exercise of its powers. The Municipal Judge shall have such other powers and duties as Council may by ordinance provide pursuant to general law.
(c) Process. All warrants and other process and orders of the Municipal Court shall be signed by the Municipal Judge and may be directed to the Chief of Police, to be executed by him, her or by his or her subordinates at any place within Monongalia County. The officer executing any such warrant, process or order shall have the same liability as a County Sheriff of the State of West Virginia in the performance of like duties or services.
The City Council shall fix the compensation of the Police Court Judge.