HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 122 RESOLUTION FILE NO. �a
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Texas is currently considering an act
designated as S. B. 100; and
WHEREAS, such legislation will make all municipal courts courts of record; and
WHEREAS, such legislation will require all municipal court judges to be appointed
for definite terms; and
WHEREAS, such legislation will require all municipal court judges to possess a
certain minimum of legal training or to be attorneys at law; and
WHEREAS, making municipal courts courts of record will upgrade the status of
said courts and improve the quality of the proceedings therein; and
WHEREAS, the appointment of municipal judges to definite terms will tend to at-
tract better qualified personnel to such positions; and
WHEREAS, requiring all municipal court judges to possess a certain minimum of legal
training or to be attorneys at law will result in better qualified judges; and
WHEREAS, such legislation provides that the presiding judge of the municipal courts
be selected by a majority vote of all municipal judges; and
WHEREAS, such means of selection may tend to create friction among such judges over
such appointment; and
WHEREAS, the governing body of the municipality should have the authority to appoint
the presiding judge to insure the proper functioning of the municipal courts; and
WHEREAS, such legislation provides that municipal judges may be removed from office
only under the procedures outlined in Section 1-a of Article V of the Constitution
of the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, such legislation would result in a state agency, far removed from local
affairs and not responsible to the citizens of the City of Fort Worth being the
only body authorized to remove municipal judges; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of the City of Fort Worth look to their governing body
for the proper performance of the municipal judges; and
WHEREAS, such legislation places the Clerk of the municipal courts under the
direction and control of a conference of municipal judges; and
WHEREAS, placing the municipal court Clerk under the direction and control of a
conference of judges may result in a conflict of authority and result in incon-
sistent policies for said Clerk to follow; and
WHEREAS, such legislation may increase the opportunity for discord between judges
of the municipal courts;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Fort Worth
goes on record as being in favor of S. B. 100, now being considered by the Leg-
islature of the State of Texas, save and except the provisions thereof providing
that the presiding judge be selected by a majority of the judges; providing that
municipal judges may be removed from office only under the procedures outlined in
Section 1-a of Article V of the Constitution of the State of Texas; and providing
that the Clerk of the municipal court perform his duties under the direction and
control of a conference of judges; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature of the State of Texas be requested to
delete such provisions from S. B. 100 and as so amended, be encouraged to support
S. B. 100.