By: Shapiro S.B. No. 753 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the creation of municipal courts of record in Irving. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Chapter 30, Government Code, is amended by adding 1-4 Subchapter A-1 to read as follows: 1-5 SUBCHAPTER A-1. IRVING 1-6 Sec. 30.0241. Application. This subchapter applies to the 1-7 City of Irving. 1-8 Sec. 30.0242. Creation. (a) The governing body of the city 1-9 may by ordinance create a municipal court of record if it 1-10 determines that the formation of the court is necessary to provide 1-11 a more efficient disposition of cases arising in the city. The 1-12 governing body may by ordinance determine the number of municipal 1-13 courts of record that are required to dispose of the cases and may 1-14 establish as many as are needed. The ordinance establishing the 1-15 courts shall give each court a numerical designation, beginning 1-16 with "Municipal Court of Record No. 1." 1-17 (b) A municipal court of record may not exist concurrently 1-18 with municipal courts that are not courts of record in the city. 1-19 (c) A municipal court of record has no terms and may sit at 1-20 any time for the transaction of the business of the court. 1-21 Sec. 30.0243. Application of Other Laws. The general law 1-22 regarding municipal courts, the general law regarding justice 1-23 courts on matters not covered by the law regarding municipal 1-24 courts, and any charter provision or ordinance of the city relating 2-1 to the municipal court apply to a municipal court of record unless 2-2 the law, charter provision, or ordinance is in conflict or 2-3 inconsistent with this subchapter. 2-4 Sec. 30.0244. Judge. (a) A municipal court of record is 2-5 presided over by a municipal judge. 2-6 (b) If there is more than one municipal judge in the city, 2-7 the governing body of the city shall appoint one of the judges to 2-8 be the chief judge. 2-9 (c) A municipal judge, including the chief judge, is 2-10 appointed by the governing body of the city for a term of two 2-11 years. 2-12 (d) A municipal judge must be a licensed attorney in good 2-13 standing in this state and must have two or more years of 2-14 experience in the practice of law in this state. The judge must be 2-15 a citizen of the United States and of this state. The judge shall 2-16 devote as much time to the office as it requires. 2-17 (e) If there is more than one municipal court of record in 2-18 the city, the judges may exchange benches and may sit and act for 2-19 each other in any proceeding pending in the courts. An act 2-20 performed by any of the judges is binding on all parties to the 2-21 proceeding. 2-22 (f) A municipal judge is entitled to a salary from the city, 2-23 the amount of which is determined by the governing body of the 2-24 city. The salary may not be based directly or indirectly on fines, 2-25 fees, or costs collected by the court. 2-26 (g) A municipal judge may be removed from office by the 2-27 governing body of the city at any time. 3-1 (h) A municipal judge shall take judicial notice of state 3-2 law, city ordinances, and the corporate limits of the city in a 3-3 case tried before a municipal court of record. A municipal judge 3-4 may grant writs of mandamus, injunction, and attachment and other 3-5 writs necessary to the enforcement of the jurisdiction of the court 3-6 and may issue writs of habeas corpus in cases in which the offense 3-7 charged is within the jurisdiction of the court. A municipal judge 3-8 may order a defendant and the victim or complainant in a case 3-9 before the municipal court to engage in mediation or alternative 3-10 dispute resolution. 3-11 (i) The governing body of the city may appoint one or more 3-12 qualified persons to be available to serve for a municipal judge 3-13 who is temporarily absent due to illness, family death, or 3-14 continuing legal or judicial education programs or for any other 3-15 reason. The chief judge, or the municipal judge if there is no 3-16 chief judge, shall select one of the persons appointed by the 3-17 governing body of the city to serve during an absence. An 3-18 alternate judge, while serving, has all the powers and shall 3-19 discharge all the duties of a municipal judge. An alternate judge 3-20 must have the same qualifications as a municipal judge. 3-21 Sec. 30.0245. Clerk; Other Personnel. The city manager of 3-22 the city may appoint a clerk of the municipal court of record who 3-23 may hire, direct, and remove the personnel authorized in the city's 3-24 annual budget for the clerk's office. The clerk or the clerk's 3-25 deputies or assistants may keep the records of the municipal courts 3-26 of record, issue process, and generally perform the duties for the 3-27 courts that a clerk of the county court exercising criminal 4-1 jurisdiction is required by law to perform for that court. The 4-2 clerk shall perform the duties in accordance with statutes, the 4-3 city charter, and city ordinances. 4-4 Sec. 30.0246. Court Reporter. (a) The city shall provide a 4-5 court reporter for the purpose of preserving a record in cases 4-6 tried before a municipal court of record. The clerk of the court 4-7 shall appoint the court reporter, who must meet the qualifications 4-8 provided by law for official court reporters. The reporter shall 4-9 be compensated by the city in the manner determined by the 4-10 governing body of the city. 4-11 (b) The court reporter may use written notes, transcribing 4-12 equipment, video or audio recording equipment, or a combination of 4-13 those methods to record the proceedings of the court. The court 4-14 reporter shall keep the record for the 20-day period beginning the 4-15 date after the last day of the court proceeding, trial, or denial 4-16 of motion for new trial, whichever occurs last. 4-17 (c) The court reporter is not required to record testimony 4-18 in a case unless the judge or one of the parties requests a record. 4-19 A party's request for a record must be in writing and be filed with 4-20 the court before trial. The judge shall tell the defendant that 4-21 unless the trial is recorded, the defendant waives the right to 4-22 appeal. 4-23 (d) The court clerk may provide that, in lieu of the city's 4-24 providing a court reporter at trial, proceedings in a municipal 4-25 court of record may be recorded by a good quality electronic 4-26 recording device. If the court clerk authorizes the electronic 4-27 recording, the court reporter need not be present at trial to 5-1 certify the statement of facts. The recording shall be kept and 5-2 stored for the 20-day period beginning the day after the last day 5-3 of the proceeding, trial, or denial of motion for new trial, 5-4 whichever occurs last. The proceedings that are appealed shall be 5-5 transcribed from the recording by an official court reporter. 5-6 Sec. 30.0247. Prosecutions by City Attorney. (a) All 5-7 prosecutions in the municipal court of record must be conducted by 5-8 the city attorney, an assistant or deputy city attorney, or an 5-9 attorney designated by the city attorney as a special prosecutor. 5-10 (b) A trial in a criminal prosecution in a municipal court 5-11 of record shall be bifurcated if either the state or the defendant 5-12 requests a bifurcated trial. 5-13 Sec. 30.0248. Jury. (a) A person who is brought before a 5-14 municipal court of record and who is charged with an offense is 5-15 entitled to be tried by a jury of six persons unless that right is 5-16 waived according to law. The jury shall assess the fine in a case 5-17 in which it finds the defendant guilty unless the defendant or the 5-18 state requests the judge to assess a fine. 5-19 (b) A juror who serves in the municipal courts of record 5-20 must meet the qualifications provided by Chapter 62. 5-21 Sec. 30.0249. Appeal. (a) A defendant has the right of 5-22 appeal from a judgment or conviction in a municipal court of record 5-23 as provided in this subchapter. The state has the right to an 5-24 appeal as provided by Article 44.01, Code of Criminal Procedure. 5-25 The county criminal courts of Dallas County have jurisdiction over 5-26 an appeal. 5-27 (b) The appellate court shall determine each appeal from a 6-1 municipal court of record conviction on the basis of the errors 6-2 that are set forth in the defendant's motion for new trial and that 6-3 are presented in the transcript and statement of facts prepared 6-4 from the proceedings leading to the conviction. An appeal from the 6-5 municipal court of record may not be by trial de novo. 6-6 (c) To perfect an appeal, the defendant must file with the 6-7 municipal court clerk a written motion for new trial not later than 6-8 the 10th day after the date on which judgment is rendered. The 6-9 motion must set forth the points of error of which the defendant 6-10 complains. The motion or an amended motion may be amended by leave 6-11 of court at any time before action on the motion is taken, but not 6-12 later than the 20th day after the date on which the original or 6-13 amended motion is filed. The court may for good cause extend the 6-14 time for filing or amending but the extension may not exceed 90 6-15 days from the original filing deadline. If the court does not act 6-16 on the motion before the expiration of the 30 days allowed for 6-17 determination of the motion, the original or amended motion is 6-18 overruled by operation of law. 6-19 (d) To perfect an appeal, the defendant must also give 6-20 notice of the appeal. If the defendant requests a hearing on the 6-21 motion for new trial, the defendant may give the notice of appeal 6-22 orally in open court on the overruling of the motion. If there is 6-23 no hearing, the defendant must give written notice of appeal and 6-24 must file the notice with the court not later than the 10th day 6-25 after the date on which the motion is overruled. The court may for 6-26 good cause extend that time period, but the extension may not 6-27 exceed 90 days from the original filing deadline. 7-1 (e) The court reporter shall set a reasonable transcript 7-2 preparation fee. The court clerk shall note the payment of the fee 7-3 on the docket of the court. 7-4 Sec. 30.0250. Appeal Bond. (a) If the defendant is not in 7-5 custody, the defendant may not take an appeal until the defendant 7-6 files an appeal bond with the municipal court of record. The bond 7-7 must be approved by the court and must be filed not later than the 7-8 10th day after the date on which the motion for new trial is 7-9 overruled. If the defendant is in custody, the defendant shall be 7-10 committed to jail unless the defendant posts the appeal bond. 7-11 (b) The appeal bond must be in the amount of $50 or double 7-12 the amount of the fine and costs adjudged against the defendant, 7-13 whichever is greater. The bond must state that the defendant was 7-14 convicted in the case and has appealed, must be payable to the 7-15 state for the use and benefit of the city, and must be conditioned 7-16 on the defendant's appearance in the court to which the appeal is 7-17 taken. 7-18 Sec. 30.0251. Record on Appeal. The record on appeal 7-19 consists of a transcript and, if necessary to the appeal, a 7-20 statement of facts. The court reporter shall prepare the record 7-21 from the reporter's record or mechanical or videotape recordings of 7-22 the proceedings. The defendant shall pay for the cost of the 7-23 transcription. If the court finds that the defendant is unable to 7-24 pay or give security for the record on appeal after a hearing in 7-25 response to an affidavit by the defendant, the court shall order 7-26 the reporter to prepare the record without charge to the defendant. 7-27 Sec. 30.0252. Transcript. (a) On the written request of 8-1 the defendant or the defendant's attorney, the municipal court 8-2 clerk shall prepare under the clerk's hand and seal a transcript of 8-3 the municipal court of record proceedings. The transcript must 8-4 include copies of: 8-5 (1) the complaint; 8-6 (2) material docket entries made by the court; 8-7 (3) the jury charge and verdict in a jury trial; 8-8 (4) the judgment; 8-9 (5) the motion for new trial; 8-10 (6) the notice of appeal; 8-11 (7) written motions and pleas; 8-12 (8) written orders of the court; 8-13 (9) any bills of exception filed with the court; 8-14 (10) the appeal bond; and 8-15 (11) exhibits admitted into evidence. 8-16 (b) The clerk may include in the transcript additional 8-17 portions of the proceedings in the court prepared from mechanical 8-18 or videotape recordings. 8-19 Sec. 30.0253. Bills of Exception. Either party may include 8-20 bills of exception in the transcript subject to the applicable 8-21 provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bills of 8-22 exception must be filed with the municipal court clerk not later 8-23 than the 60th day after the date on which the notice of appeal is 8-24 given or filed. 8-25 Sec. 30.0254. Statements of Facts. A statement of facts 8-26 included in the record on appeal must contain: 8-27 (1) a transcript of all or part of the municipal court 9-1 of record proceedings that are shown by the notes of the court 9-2 reporter to have occurred before, during, or after the trial, if 9-3 the transcript is requested by the defendant; 9-4 (2) a brief statement of the facts of the case proven 9-5 at trial as agreed to by the defendant and the prosecuting 9-6 attorney; 9-7 (3) a partial transcript and the agreed statement of 9-8 the facts of the case; or 9-9 (4) a transcript of all or part of the municipal court 9-10 of record proceedings in the case that is prepared from mechanical 9-11 or videotape recordings of the proceedings. 9-12 Sec. 30.0255. Completion, Approval, and Transfer of Record. 9-13 (a) Not later than the 60th day after the date on which the notice 9-14 of appeal is given or filed, the appellant must file with the 9-15 municipal court clerk: 9-16 (1) the statement of facts; 9-17 (2) a written description of material to be included 9-18 in the transcript in addition to the required material; and 9-19 (3) any material to be included in the transcript that 9-20 is not in the custody of the clerk. 9-21 (b) On completion of the record, the municipal judge shall 9-22 approve the record in the manner provided for record completion, 9-23 approval, and notification in the court of appeals. 9-24 (c) After the court approves the record, the clerk shall 9-25 promptly send it to the appellate court clerk for filing. The 9-26 appellate court clerk shall notify the defendant and the 9-27 prosecuting attorney that the record has been filed. 10-1 Sec. 30.0256. Brief on Appeal. (a) A defendant's brief on 10-2 appeal from a municipal court of record must present points of 10-3 error in the manner required by law for a brief on appeal to the 10-4 court of appeals. 10-5 (b) The defendant must file the brief with the appellate 10-6 court clerk not later than the 15th day after the date on which the 10-7 transcript and statement of facts are filed with that clerk. The 10-8 defendant or the defendant's attorney must certify that the brief 10-9 has been properly mailed to the prosecuting attorney. 10-10 (c) The prosecuting attorney must file the appellee's brief, 10-11 if any, with the appellate court clerk not later than the 15th day 10-12 after the date on which the defendant's brief is filed. 10-13 (d) On filing, each party shall deliver a copy of the brief 10-14 to the opposing party and to the municipal judge. 10-15 Sec. 30.0257. Court Rules. (a) Except as modified by this 10-16 subchapter, the Code of Criminal Procedure governs the trial of 10-17 cases before the municipal court of record. The court may make and 10-18 enforce all rules of practice and procedure necessary to expedite 10-19 the trial of cases before the court that are not inconsistent with 10-20 general law. 10-21 (b) The appellate courts may make and enforce all rules of 10-22 practice and procedure that are not inconsistent with general law 10-23 and that are necessary to expedite the dispatch of appeals from the 10-24 municipal court of record. 10-25 Sec. 30.0258. Disposition on Appeal. (a) According to law 10-26 and the nature of the case, the appellate court may: 10-27 (1) affirm the judgment of the municipal court of 11-1 record; 11-2 (2) reverse and remand for a new trial; 11-3 (3) reverse and dismiss the case; or 11-4 (4) reform and correct the judgment. 11-5 (b) Unless the matter was made an issue in the trial court 11-6 or it affirmatively appears to the contrary from the transcript or 11-7 the statement of facts, the appellate court shall presume that: 11-8 (1) venue was proven in the trial court; 11-9 (2) the jury, if any, was properly impaneled and 11-10 sworn; 11-11 (3) the defendant was arraigned and pleaded to the 11-12 complaint; and 11-13 (4) the municipal judge certified the charge before it 11-14 was read to the jury. 11-15 (c) In each case decided by the appellate court, the court 11-16 shall deliver a written opinion or order either sustaining or 11-17 overruling each assignment of error presented. The court shall set 11-18 forth the reasons for its decision. The appellate court clerk 11-19 shall mail copies of the decision to the parties and to the 11-20 municipal judge as soon as the decision is rendered. 11-21 Sec. 30.0259. Certificate of Appellate Proceedings. When 11-22 the judgment of the appellate court becomes final, the clerk of 11-23 that court shall certify the proceedings and the judgment and shall 11-24 mail the certificate to the municipal court. The court clerk shall 11-25 file the certificate with the papers in the case and note the 11-26 certificate on the case docket. If the municipal court of record 11-27 judgment is affirmed, further action to enforce the judgment is not 12-1 necessary except to: 12-2 (1) forfeit the bond of the defendant; 12-3 (2) issue a writ of capias for the defendant; or 12-4 (3) issue an execution against the defendant's 12-5 property. 12-6 Sec. 30.0260. Effect of Order on New Trial. If the 12-7 appellate court awards a new trial to the defendant, the case 12-8 stands as if a new trial had been granted by the municipal court of 12-9 record. 12-10 Sec. 30.0261. Appeal to Court of Appeals. The defendant has 12-11 the right to appeal to the court of appeals if the fine assessed 12-12 against the defendant exceeds $100 and if the judgment is affirmed 12-13 by the appellate court. The provisions of the Code of Criminal 12-14 Procedure relating to direct appeals from a county or a district 12-15 court to the court of appeals apply to the appeal, except that: 12-16 (1) the record and briefs on appeal in the appellate 12-17 court constitute the record and briefs on appeal to the court of 12-18 appeals unless the rules of the court of criminal appeals provide 12-19 otherwise; and 12-20 (2) the record and briefs shall be filed directly with 12-21 the court of appeals. 12-22 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 12-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 12-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 12-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 12-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 12-27 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 13-1 passage, and it is so enacted.