HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10717 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 21-10717
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 7, 2021
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SUBJECT: JUDICIAL RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS
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The purpose of this Informal Report is to share with the Mayor and City Council the proposed new
formal process to recruit, interview, and recommend appointment of full and part-time Municipal
Court Judges to the full City Council. Full-time judicial terms are appointed/reappointed on even
numbered years and part-time on odd numbered years. The Chief Judge will be responsible for
implementing and managing the process once approved by the Mayor and City Council.
Judicial Appointment Process:
• Post the Judge position(s) through the Human Resources Department — position would
generally be posted for two weeks
• Posting will be open to internal as well as external candidates — must hold a JD and be
licensed or eligible to be licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, must have
practiced law for a minimum of two years and be in good standing with the State Bar of
Texas.
• Post positon on a broad range of job posting services including but not limited to the State
Bar of Texas, the Texas Municipal Court Association, the Tarrant County Bar Association,
Tarrant County Black Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association, TML, National League of
Cities, etc
• Once posting is closed, HR will review the applicants to eliminate applicants that do not
meet the minimum criteria and posted requirements
• Pool of persons meeting all of the posted requirements would be shared with the Chief
Judge
• Chief Judge would convene a panel to screen the eligible applicant packets. The panel will
select and invite a group of candidates to participate in the interview process with the
objective of selecting 5-8 eligible candidates. Panel members may include the Chief
Judge, Deputy Chief Judge, Director of Municipal Court, a representative from the
Diversity and Inclusion Department and other appropriate personnel.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 21-10717
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 7, 2021
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SUBJECT: JUDICIAL RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS
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• Interviews —will consist of a two-step interview process.
o Led by the Deputy Chief Judge, Panel A would include other judges — who know
and understand the qualities/temperament necessary to be a judge.
o Panel B, led by the Chief Judge, would consist of the Chief Judge and may include
the Court Director, a representative of the City Manager's office, a representative of
the Diversity & Inclusion Department, as well as Directors from other departments.
• Share with the City Manager prior to going to a council meeting to coordinate for
presentation to the Mayor and Council.
• The Chief Judge would provide an update and recommendation to the full City Council for
their consideration and vote to appoint a new judge and set compensation
• M & C process to complete judicial appointment
Currently there is an immediate need to fill a full-time judicial position due to Judge Ann Y. Collins
recent retirement; effective November 30, 2021 . There is also a need for 2-3 additional substitute
judicial positions that we would seek to fill.
For questions regarding this information, please contact Chief Judge Danny Rodgers, at
817.392.6717.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS