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Home My WebLink AboutOrdinance 24093-04-2020 ORDINANCE NO. 24093-04-2020 AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING CHARLES T. ATKINSON, ANDREW T. BRADSHAW, RAQUEL D. BROWN, ANN Y. COLLINS, SIMON C. GONZALEZ,MELANIE A.HOUSTON,THADDEUS A.IWUJI, CLAUDIA A. MARTINEZ, R. NEEL MCDONALD, JAMES D. RODGERS, AND PATRICIA L. SUMMERS AS MUNICIPAL JUDGES FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM COMMENCING APRIL 1,2020 AND ENDING MARCH 31,2022 OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS QUALIFIED AND APPOINTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW;PROVIDING THAT ALL PERSONS PRESENTLY HOLDING AN APPOINTED POSITION AS JUDGE BUT WHO ARE NOT LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE ARE NOT REAPPOINTED; APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF JUDGE AND DEPUTY CHIEF JUDGE; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS: SECTION 1. That,the following individuals are now appointed as Municipal Judges for a two-year term commencing April 1, 2020 and ending March 31, 2022, or until a successor is qualified and appointed in accordance with state law: Municipal Court Judge Place 1: James D. Rodgers; Municipal Court Judge Place 2: Simon C. Gonzalez; Municipal Court Judge Place 3: Patricia L. Summers; Municipal Court Judge Place 4: Andrew T. Bradshaw; Municipal Court Judge Place 5: Raquel D. Brown; Municipal Court Judge Place 6: Melanie A. Houston; Municipal Court Judge Place 7: Claudia A. Martinez; Municipal Court Judge Place 8: R.Neel McDonald; Municipal Court Judge Place 9: Ann Y. Collins; Municipal Court Judge Place 10: Charles T. Atkinson; Municipal Court Judge Place 11: Thaddeus A. Iwuji. Any individual presently holding an appointed position as a judge, but who is not listed in this ordinance as being appointed to a place, is not reappointed to their office. Appointment to a place does not mean appointment to a specific court or division. Assignment to a court remains within the authority of the Chief Judge as authorized by Section 10-3 of Chapter 10, Courts of the Fort Worth City Code. SECTION 2. That James D. Rodgers be appointed as Chief Judge and that Simon C. Gonzalez be appointed as Deputy Chief Judge. SECTION 3. This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances and of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1986), as amended, except where provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of such ordinances and Code, in which event such conflicting provisions of such ordinances and Code are hereby repealed. SECTION 4. It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable, and, if any phrase,clause,sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared void, ineffective or unconstitutional by the valid judgment or final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, such ineffectiveness or unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City Council without 2 the incorporation herein of any such void, ineffective or unconstitutional phrase,clause, sentence, paragraph or section. SECTION 5. This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: zaw� �,"6t al W-n& 01+ufil' Q By:Laetitia Coleman Brown(Apr 15,2020) Laetitia Coleman Brown Mary J. Kayser Assistant City Attorney City Secretary ADOPTED: AA12ril 7, 2020 EFFECTIVE: April 7, 2020 OF FOR.. A.k 3 City of Fort Worth,Texas Mayor and Council Communication DATE: 04/07/20 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 20-0185 LOG NAME: 38 JAMES. D.RODGERS SUBJECT Adopt Ordinance Appointing the Municipal Judges,Chief Judge and Deputy Chief Judge for Two-Year Terms Commencing April 1,2020 and ending March 31,2022 (ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS) RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council: 1.Appoint Charles T.Atkinson,Andrew T.Bradshaw,Raquel D.Brown,Ann Y.Collins,Simon C.Gonzalez,Melanie A.Houston,Thaddeus A.Iwuji, Claudia A.Martinez,R.Neel McDonald,James D.Rodgers,and Patricia L.Summers as Municipal Judges for two-year terms commencing April 1,2020 and ending March 31,2022,or until a successor is qualified and appointed in accordance with state law;and 2.Designate James D.Rodgers as Chief Judge and Simon C.Gonzalez as Deputy Chief Judge. DISCUSSION: Appointment of Municipal Court Judges,Chief Judge and the Deputy Chief Judge: Chapter 30 of the Texas Government Code(the Uniform Municipal Courts of Record Act)sets out the requirements for appointment of judges and the presiding judge for Municipal Courts of Record.Section 30.00006(b)of the Texas Government Code requires the governing body of a municipality to appoint its Municipal Judges by ordinance.Section 30.00007 of the Texas Government Code requires the governing body of the municipality to designate a presiding judge if there is more than one municipal judge in the municipality.Section 10-3 of the City Code requires the City council to designate a Chief Judge with the duties of a presiding judge.The City Council is also authorized to designate a Deputy Chief Judge. On February 18,2020,the Ad Hoc Municipal Courts Advisory Committee(Courts Committee)voted to recommend to the City Council that Charles T.Atkinson,Andrew T.Bradshaw,Raquel D.Brown,Ann Y.Collins,Simon C.Gonzalez,Melanie A.Houston,Thaddeus A.Iwuji,Claudia A. Martinez, R.Neel McDonald,James D.Rodgers,and Patricia L.Summers be reappointed as Municipal Judges for two-year terms commencing April 1,2020 and ending March 31,2022. On the same date,the Courts Committee voted to recommend to the City Council the reappointment of James D.Rodgers as Chief Judge and Simon C.Gonzalez as Deputy Chief Judge for two-year terms commencing April 1,2020 and ending March 31,2022.Therefore,the following individuals are now appointed as Municipal Judges in the following places for a two-year term commencing April 1,2020 and ending March 31, 2022,or until a successor is qualified and appointed in accordance with state and local law: Municipal Court Judge Place 1:James D. Rodgers Muncipal Court Judge Place 2:Simon C.Gonzalez Municipal Court Judge Place 3:Patricia L.Summers Municipal Court Judge Place 4:Andrew T.Bradshaw Municipal Court Judge Place 5:Raquel D.Brown Municipal Court Judge Place 6:Melanie A.Houston Municipal Court Judge Place 7:Claudia A.Martinez Municipal Court Judge Place 8: R. Neel McDonald Municipal Court Judge Place 9:Ann Y.Collins Municipal Court Judge Place 10:Charles T.Atkinson Municipal Court Judge Place 11:Thaddeus A.Iwuji There is no change in the compensation for the judges at this time. CMO supports the recommendation of the Court Committee. A Form 1295 is not required because:This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity. FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION: The Director of Finance certifies that approval of these recommendations will have no material effect on City funds. Submitted for City Manager's Office by: Valerie Washington 6199 Oriainating Business Unit Head: William Rumuly 6736 Additional Information Contact: James D. Rodgers 6717