1-1 By: Dear (Senate Sponsor - Moncrief) H.B. No. 3222 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 17, 1995; 1-3 May 19, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Jurisprudence; May 24, 1995, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 24, 1995, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the creation of municipal courts of record in River 1-9 Oaks. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Chapter 30, Government Code, is amended by adding 1-12 Subchapter HH to read as follows: 1-13 SUBCHAPTER HH. RIVER OAKS 1-14 Sec. 30.2481. APPLICATION. This subchapter applies to the 1-15 City of River Oaks. 1-16 Sec. 30.2482. CREATION. (a) The governing body of the city 1-17 may by ordinance create a municipal court of record if it 1-18 determines that the formation of the court is necessary to provide 1-19 a more efficient disposition of cases arising in the city. The 1-20 governing body may by ordinance determine the number of municipal 1-21 courts of record that are required to dispose of the cases and may 1-22 establish as many as are needed. The ordinance establishing the 1-23 courts shall give each court a numerical designation, beginning 1-24 with "Municipal Court of Record No. 1." 1-25 (b) A municipal court of record may not exist concurrently 1-26 with municipal courts that are not courts of record in the city. 1-27 (c) A municipal court of record has no terms and may sit at 1-28 any time for the transaction of the business of the court. 1-29 Sec. 30.2483. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS. The general law 1-30 regarding municipal courts, the general law regarding justice 1-31 courts on matters not covered by the law regarding municipal 1-32 courts, and any charter provision or ordinance of the city relating 1-33 to the municipal court apply to a municipal court of record unless 1-34 the law, charter provision, or ordinance is in conflict or 1-35 inconsistent with this subchapter. 1-36 Sec. 30.2484. JUDGE. (a) A municipal court of record is 1-37 presided over by a municipal judge. 1-38 (b) If there is more than one municipal judge in the city, 1-39 the governing body of the city shall appoint one of the judges to 1-40 be the chief judge. 1-41 (c) A municipal judge, including the chief judge, is 1-42 appointed by the governing body of the city for a term of two 1-43 years. 1-44 (d) A municipal judge must be a licensed attorney in good 1-45 standing in this state and must have two or more years of 1-46 experience in the practice of law in this state. The judge must be 1-47 a citizen of the United States and of this state. The judge shall 1-48 devote as much time to the office as it requires. 1-49 (e) If there is more than one municipal court of record in 1-50 the city, the judges may exchange benches and may sit and act for 1-51 each other in any proceeding pending in the courts. An act 1-52 performed by any of the judges is binding on all parties to the 1-53 proceeding. 1-54 (f) A municipal judge is entitled to a salary from the city, 1-55 the amount of which is determined by the governing body of the city 1-56 and may not be diminished during the judge's term of office. The 1-57 salary may not be based directly or indirectly on fines, fees, or 1-58 costs collected by the court. 1-59 (g) A municipal judge may be removed from office by the 1-60 governing body of the city at any time for incompetency, 1-61 misconduct, malfeasance, or disability. 1-62 (h) A municipal judge shall take judicial notice of the city 1-63 ordinances and the corporate limits of the city in a case tried 1-64 before a municipal court of record. A municipal judge may grant 1-65 writs of mandamus, injunction, and attachment and other writs 1-66 necessary to the enforcement of the jurisdiction of the court and 1-67 may issue writs of habeas corpus in cases in which the offense 1-68 charged is within the jurisdiction of the court. A municipal judge 2-1 may issue administrative search warrants. 2-2 (i) The governing body of the city shall appoint a qualified 2-3 person to fill a vacancy in the office of municipal judge for the 2-4 remainder of the unexpired term. 2-5 (j) The governing body may appoint one or more qualified 2-6 persons to be available to serve for a municipal judge who is 2-7 temporarily absent due to illness, family death, continuing legal 2-8 or judicial education programs, or any other reason. The chief 2-9 judge, or the municipal judge if there is no chief judge, shall 2-10 select one of the persons appointed by the governing body to serve 2-11 during an absence. An alternate judge, while serving, has all the 2-12 powers and shall discharge all the duties of a municipal judge. An 2-13 alternate judge must have the same qualifications as a municipal 2-14 judge. 2-15 Sec. 30.2485. MAGISTRATES. (a) The governing body may 2-16 appoint one or more magistrates in addition to magistrates provided 2-17 under Article 2.09, Code of Criminal Procedure. 2-18 (b) A magistrate does not have to possess all the 2-19 qualifications necessary to be a municipal court of record judge. 2-20 (c) A magistrate may not preside over the court or hear 2-21 contested cases. 2-22 (d) A magistrate may: 2-23 (1) conduct an arraignment; 2-24 (2) hold an indigency hearing; 2-25 (3) accept a plea; 2-26 (4) sign a judgment; 2-27 (5) set the amount of a bond; and 2-28 (6) perform other functions under Article 15.17, Code 2-29 of Criminal Procedure. 2-30 Sec. 30.2486. CLERK; OTHER PERSONNEL. The city 2-31 administrator of the city shall appoint a clerk of the municipal 2-32 court of record who may hire, direct, and remove the personnel 2-33 authorized in the city's annual budget for the clerk's office. The 2-34 clerk or the clerk's deputies shall keep the records of the 2-35 municipal courts of record, issue process, and generally perform 2-36 the duties for the courts that a clerk of the county court 2-37 exercising criminal jurisdiction is required by law to perform for 2-38 that court. The clerk shall perform the duties in accordance with 2-39 statutes, the city charter, and city ordinances. 2-40 Sec. 30.2487. COURT REPORTER. (a) The city shall provide a 2-41 court reporter for the purpose of preserving a record in cases 2-42 tried before the municipal court of record. The clerk of the court 2-43 shall appoint the court reporter, who must meet the qualifications 2-44 provided by law for official court reporters. The reporter shall 2-45 be compensated by the city in the manner determined by the 2-46 governing body of the city. 2-47 (b) The court reporter may use written notes, transcribing 2-48 equipment, video or audio recording equipment, or a combination of 2-49 those methods to record the proceedings of the court. A record 2-50 shall be kept for the 20-day period beginning the day after the 2-51 last day of the court proceeding, trial, or denial of motion for 2-52 new trial, whichever occurs last. 2-53 (c) The court reporter is not required to record testimony 2-54 in a case unless the judge or one of the parties requests a record. 2-55 A party's request for a record must be in writing and be filed with 2-56 the court before trial. 2-57 (d) The governing body may provide that, in lieu of 2-58 providing a court reporter at trial, proceedings in a municipal 2-59 court of record may be recorded by a good quality electronic 2-60 recording device. If the governing body authorizes the electronic 2-61 recording, the court reporter need not be present at trial to 2-62 certify the statement of facts. The recording shall be kept and 2-63 stored for the 20-day period beginning the day after the last day 2-64 of the proceeding, trial, or denial of motion for new trial, 2-65 whichever occurs last. The proceedings that are appealed shall be 2-66 transcribed from the recording by an official court reporter. 2-67 Sec. 30.2488. PROSECUTIONS BY CITY ATTORNEY. All 2-68 prosecutions in the municipal court of record must be conducted by 2-69 the city attorney or an assistant or deputy city attorney. 2-70 Sec. 30.2489. JURY. (a) A person who is brought before a 3-1 municipal court of record and who is charged with an offense is 3-2 entitled to be tried by a jury of six persons unless that right is 3-3 waived according to law. The jury shall decide all questions of 3-4 fact or credibility of witnesses. The court shall determine all 3-5 matters of law and shall charge the jury on the law. 3-6 (b) A juror who serves in the municipal courts of record 3-7 must meet the qualifications provided by Chapter 62. 3-8 Sec. 30.2490. APPEAL. (a) A defendant has the right of 3-9 appeal from a judgment or conviction in a municipal court of record 3-10 as provided in this subchapter. The county criminal courts of 3-11 Tarrant County have jurisdiction over an appeal. The state has no 3-12 right to an appeal or to a new trial. 3-13 (b) The appellate court shall determine each appeal from a 3-14 municipal court of record conviction on the basis of the errors 3-15 that are set forth in the defendant's motion for new trial and that 3-16 are presented in the transcript and statement of facts prepared 3-17 from the proceedings leading to the conviction. An appeal from the 3-18 municipal court of record may not be by trial de novo. 3-19 (c) To perfect an appeal, the defendant must file with the 3-20 municipal court clerk a written motion for new trial not later than 3-21 the 10th day after the date on which judgment is rendered. The 3-22 motion must set forth the points of error of which the defendant 3-23 complains. The motion or an amended motion may be amended by leave 3-24 of court at any time before action on the motion is taken, but not 3-25 later than the 20th day after the date on which the original or 3-26 amended motion is filed. The court may for good cause extend the 3-27 time for filing or amending, but the extension may not exceed 90 3-28 days from the original filing deadline. If the court does not act 3-29 on the motion before the expiration of the 30 days allowed for 3-30 determination of the motion, the original or amended motion is 3-31 overruled by operation of law. 3-32 (d) To perfect an appeal, the defendant must also give 3-33 notice of the appeal. If the defendant requests a hearing on the 3-34 motion for new trial, the defendant may give the notice of appeal 3-35 orally in open court on the overruling of the motion. If there is 3-36 no hearing, the defendant must give written notice of appeal and 3-37 must file the notice with the court not later than the 10th day 3-38 after the date on which the motion is overruled. The court may for 3-39 good cause extend that time period, but the extension may not 3-40 exceed 90 days from the original filing deadline. 3-41 Sec. 30.2491. APPEAL BOND. (a) If the defendant is not in 3-42 custody, the defendant may not take an appeal until the defendant 3-43 files an appeal bond with the municipal court of record. The bond 3-44 must be approved by the court and must be filed not later than the 3-45 10th day after the date on which the motion for new trial is 3-46 overruled. If the defendant is in custody, the defendant shall be 3-47 committed to jail unless the defendant posts the appeal bond. 3-48 (b) The appeal bond must be in the amount of $50 or double 3-49 the amount of the fine and costs adjudged against the defendant, 3-50 whichever is greater. The bond must state that the defendant was 3-51 convicted in the case and has appealed, must be payable to the 3-52 state for the use and benefit of the city, and must be conditioned 3-53 on the defendant's appearance in the court to which the appeal is 3-54 taken. 3-55 Sec. 30.2492. RECORD ON APPEAL. The record on appeal 3-56 consists of a transcript and, if necessary to the appeal, a 3-57 statement of facts. The court reporter shall prepare the record 3-58 from the reporter's record or mechanical or videotape recordings of 3-59 the proceedings. The defendant shall pay for the cost of the 3-60 transcription. If the court finds that the defendant is unable to 3-61 pay or give security for the record on appeal after a hearing in 3-62 response to an affidavit by the defendant, the court shall order 3-63 the reporter to prepare the record without charge to the defendant. 3-64 If the case is reversed on appeal, the court shall promptly refund 3-65 the cost to the defendant. 3-66 Sec. 30.2493. TRANSCRIPT. (a) On the written request of 3-67 the defendant or the defendant's attorney, the municipal court 3-68 clerk shall prepare under the clerk's hand and seal a transcript of 3-69 the municipal court of record proceedings. The transcript must 3-70 include copies of: 4-1 (1) the complaint; 4-2 (2) material docket entries made by the court; 4-3 (3) the jury charge and verdict in a jury trial; 4-4 (4) the judgment; 4-5 (5) the motion for new trial; 4-6 (6) the notice of appeal; 4-7 (7) written motions and pleas; 4-8 (8) written orders of the court; 4-9 (9) any bills of exception filed with the court; 4-10 (10) the appeal bond; and 4-11 (11) exhibits admitted into evidence. 4-12 (b) The clerk may include in the transcript additional 4-13 portions of the proceedings in the court prepared from mechanical 4-14 or videotape recordings. 4-15 Sec. 30.2494. BILLS OF EXCEPTION. Either party may include 4-16 bills of exception in the transcript subject to the applicable 4-17 provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bills of 4-18 exception must be filed with the municipal court clerk not later 4-19 than the 60th day after the date on which the notice of appeal is 4-20 given or filed. 4-21 Sec. 30.2495. STATEMENTS OF FACTS. A statement of facts 4-22 included in the record on appeal must contain: 4-23 (1) a transcript of all or part of the municipal court 4-24 of record proceedings that are shown by the notes of the court 4-25 reporter to have occurred before, during, or after the trial, if 4-26 the transcript is requested by the defendant; 4-27 (2) a brief statement of the facts of the case proven 4-28 at trial as agreed to by the defendant and the prosecuting 4-29 attorney; 4-30 (3) a partial transcript and the agreed statement of 4-31 the facts of the case; or 4-32 (4) a transcript of all or part of the municipal court 4-33 of record proceedings in the case that is prepared from mechanical 4-34 or videotape recordings of the proceedings. 4-35 Sec. 30.2496. COMPLETION, APPROVAL, AND TRANSFER OF RECORD. 4-36 (a) Not later than the 60th day after the date on which the notice 4-37 of appeal is given or filed, the parties must file with the 4-38 municipal court clerk: 4-39 (1) the statement of facts; 4-40 (2) a written description of material to be included 4-41 in the transcript in addition to the required material; and 4-42 (3) any material to be included in the transcript that 4-43 is not in the custody of the clerk. 4-44 (b) On completion of the record, the municipal judge shall 4-45 approve the record in the manner provided for record completion, 4-46 approval, and notification in the court of appeals. 4-47 (c) After the court approves the record, the clerk shall 4-48 promptly send it to the appellate court clerk for filing. The 4-49 appellate court clerk shall notify the defendant and the 4-50 prosecuting attorney that the record has been filed. 4-51 Sec. 30.2497. BRIEF ON APPEAL. (a) A defendant's brief on 4-52 appeal from a municipal court of record must present points of 4-53 error in the manner required by law for a brief on appeal to the 4-54 court of appeals. 4-55 (b) The defendant must file the brief with the appellate 4-56 court clerk not later than the 15th day after the date on which the 4-57 transcript and statement of facts are filed with that clerk. The 4-58 defendant or the defendant's attorney must certify that the brief 4-59 has been properly mailed to the prosecuting attorney. 4-60 (c) The prosecuting attorney must file the appellee's brief 4-61 with the appellate court clerk not later than the 15th day after 4-62 the date on which the defendant's brief is filed. 4-63 (d) On filing, each party shall deliver a copy of the brief 4-64 to the opposing party and to the municipal judge. 4-65 Sec. 30.2498. COURT RULES. (a) Except as modified by this 4-66 subchapter, the Code of Criminal Procedure governs the trial of 4-67 cases before the municipal court of record. The court may make and 4-68 enforce all rules of practice and procedure necessary to expedite 4-69 the trial of cases before the court that are not inconsistent with 4-70 general law. 5-1 (b) A bond must be payable to the state for the use and 5-2 benefit of the city. 5-3 (c) A peace officer may serve a process issued by a 5-4 municipal court of record. 5-5 (d) The appellate courts may make and enforce all rules of 5-6 practice and procedure that are not inconsistent with general law 5-7 and that are necessary to expedite the dispatch of appeals from the 5-8 municipal court of record. 5-9 Sec. 30.2499. DISPOSITION ON APPEAL. (a) According to law 5-10 and the nature of the case, the appellate court may: 5-11 (1) affirm the judgment of the municipal court of 5-12 record; 5-13 (2) reverse and remand for a new trial; 5-14 (3) reverse and dismiss the case; or 5-15 (4) reform and correct the judgment. 5-16 (b) Unless the matter was made an issue in the trial court 5-17 or it affirmatively appears to the contrary from the transcript or 5-18 the statement of facts, the appellate court shall presume that: 5-19 (1) venue was proven in the trial court; 5-20 (2) the jury, if any, was properly impaneled and 5-21 sworn; 5-22 (3) the defendant was arraigned and pleaded to the 5-23 complaint; and 5-24 (4) the municipal judge certified the charge before it 5-25 was read to the jury. 5-26 (c) In each case decided by the appellate court, the court 5-27 shall deliver a written opinion or order either sustaining or 5-28 overruling each assignment of error presented. The court shall set 5-29 forth the reasons for its decision. The appellate court clerk 5-30 shall mail copies of the decision to the parties and to the 5-31 municipal judge as soon as the decision is rendered. 5-32 Sec. 30.2500. CERTIFICATE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS. When 5-33 the judgment of the appellate court becomes final, the clerk of 5-34 that court shall certify the proceedings and the judgment and shall 5-35 mail the certificate to the municipal court. The court clerk shall 5-36 file the certificate with the papers in the case and note the 5-37 certificate on the case docket. If the municipal court of record 5-38 judgment is affirmed, further action to enforce the judgment is not 5-39 necessary except to: 5-40 (1) forfeit the bond of the defendant; 5-41 (2) issue a writ of capias for the defendant; or 5-42 (3) issue an execution against the defendant's 5-43 property. 5-44 Sec. 30.2501. EFFECT OF ORDER OF NEW TRIAL. If the 5-45 appellate court awards a new trial to the defendant, the case 5-46 stands as if a new trial had been granted by the municipal court of 5-47 record. 5-48 Sec. 30.2502. APPEAL TO COURT OF APPEALS. The defendant has 5-49 the right to appeal to the court of appeals if the fine assessed 5-50 against the defendant exceeds $100 and if the judgment is affirmed 5-51 by the appellate court. The provisions of the Code of Criminal 5-52 Procedure relating to direct appeals from a county or a district 5-53 court to the court of appeals apply to the appeal, except that: 5-54 (1) the record and briefs on appeal in the appellate 5-55 court constitute the record and briefs on appeal to the court of 5-56 appeals unless the rules of the court of criminal appeals provide 5-57 otherwise; and 5-58 (2) the record and briefs shall be filed directly with 5-59 the court of appeals. 5-60 Sec. 30.2503. JOINT COURTS: CREATION. (a) The governing 5-61 body of the city may contract with one or more municipalities that 5-62 have municipal courts of record to establish a joint municipal 5-63 court of record to serve the contracting municipalities. 5-64 (b) A joint municipal court of record created under this 5-65 section replaces each municipality's individual municipal court of 5-66 record. 5-67 Sec. 30.2504. JOINT COURT: JUDGES. (a) Notwithstanding 5-68 any other law, a joint municipal court of record created under 5-69 Section 30.2503 is presided over by a municipal judge or alternate 5-70 municipal judge who is appointed by the governing bodies of the 6-1 contracting municipalities for a two-year term. 6-2 (b) The judge of a joint municipal court of record may be 6-3 removed from office by the governing bodies of the contracting 6-4 municipalities at any time for incompetency, misconduct, 6-5 malfeasance, or inability to perform the tasks of the office. 6-6 Sec. 30.2505. JOINT COURTS: JURISDICTION. (a) The 6-7 jurisdiction of a joint municipal court of record created under 6-8 Section 30.2503 is the combined jurisdiction of the municipal 6-9 courts of the contracting municipalities. 6-10 (b) An appeal from a joint municipal court of record created 6-11 under Section 30.2503 is to the county criminal court of the county 6-12 in which the offense occurred. If that county does not have a 6-13 county criminal court, appeal is to the county court of law of the 6-14 county. 6-15 Sec. 30.2506. JOINT COURT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. A 6-16 municipality that contracts under Section 30.2503 may provide its 6-17 own prosecuting attorney or the contracting municipalities may 6-18 agree on the selection of one or more prosecuting attorneys. 6-19 Sec. 30.2507. JOINT COURT: APPLICABLE LAW. (a) The 6-20 municipalities by contract shall select one of the contracting 6-21 municipality's enabling statutes as the source of applicable 6-22 procedural requirements for the operation of the joint municipal 6-23 court of record established under Section 30.2503. 6-24 (b) All of the provisions of the statute selected under 6-25 Subsection (a) apply to the operation of the joint municipal court 6-26 of record. If there is a conflict with any of the provisions in 6-27 Sections 30.2503-30.2506, those sections control. 6-28 (c) Any matter that is not governed by the contracting 6-29 municipalities' enabling legislation or other law shall be resolved 6-30 by the contract entered into under Section 30.2503. 6-31 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 6-32 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 6-33 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 6-34 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 6-35 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 6-36 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 6-37 passage, and it is so enacted. 6-38 * * * * *