HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 25354-03-2022 ORDINANCE NO.25354-03-2022
AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING ANDREW T. BRADSHAW, RAQUEL D.
BROWN, 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 1,2022 AND ENDING
MARCH 31, 2024 OR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS QUALIFIED AND
APPOINTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW; PROVIDING
THAT ALL PERSONS PRESENTLY HOLDING AN APPOINTED
POSITION AS A MUNICIPAL 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, 2022 and ending March 31, 2024, 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:
Municipal Court Judge Place 10: 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provisions of such ordinances and Code are hereby repealed.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
the incorporation herein of any such void, ineffective or unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence,
paragraph or section.
2
SECTION 5.
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
By:Benjam' ampract(Mar 10,202210:10 ) Jannette S.Goodall(Mar 10,202216:26 CST)
Benjamin Sampract,Assistant City Attorney Jannette S. Goodall, City Secretary
ADOPTED: March 8, 2022
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EFFECTIVE: March 8, 2022
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City of Fort Worth,Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 03/08/22 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 22-0185
LOG NAME: 38MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE REAPPOINTMENT 2022
SUBJECT
(ALL)Adopt Attached Ordinance Reappointing the Municipal Judges,Chief Judge and Deputy Chief Judge for a Two-Year Term Commencing
April 1,2022 and Ending March 31,2024
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Reappoint James D.Rodgers as Chief Judge and Simon C.Gonzalez as Deputy Chief Judge;and
2. Reappoint Andrew T.Bradshaw,Raquel D.Brown,Melanie A.Houston,Thaddeus A.Iwuji,Claudia A.Martinez,R.Neel McDonald,and
Patricia L.Summers as Municipal Judges for a two-year term commencing April 1,2022 and ending March 31,2024,or until a successor is
qualified and appointed in accordance with state law.
DISCUSSION:
Reappointment 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 30.00006(h)of the Texas Government Code requires the City Council to set the
salary for the Municipal Judges. 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.
Currently there are 10 Judicial Places.One judicial vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Ann Collins. After a review of the judicial
staffing needs,Chief Judge Rodgers recommended to the Committee that one vacant judicial place be filled though an application process.
On February 22,2022 the Legislative Affairs Committee voted to recommend to the City Council that Andrew T.Bradshaw, Raquel D.Brown,
Simon C.Gonzalez,Melanie Houston,Thaddeus Iwuji,Claudia A.Martinez, Robert Neel McDonald,James D. Rodgers,and Patricia L.Summers
be reappointed as Municipal Judges for a two-year term commencing April 1,2022 and ending March 31,2024,or until a successor is qualified
and appointed in accordance with state and local law and;and the designation of James D.Rodgers as Chief Judge and Simon C.Gonzalez as
Deputy Chief Judge
On the same date,the Legislative Affairs Committee voted to increase salaries for the Municipal Judges by 8%,Deputy Chief Municipal Judge by
8%and the Chief Municipal Judge position by 4%in FY2022 effective 41112022. Salaries will increase by an additional 4%in FY2023 effective
10/1/2022. A separate M&C and ordinance will be submitted in FY2023 for any pay rate adjustment for the 2023 Fiscal Year. The new pay rate
adjustment will set the FY2022 hourly pay rate for the Chief Judge,Deputy Chief Judge and 7 Municipal Judges as follows:
1. An hourly rate of$54.52 in FY2022 for Municipal Judges Melanie Houston and Thaddeus Iwuji.
2. An hourly rate of$61.48 in FY2022 for Municipal Judges Patricia Summers and Raquel Brown
3. An hourly rate of$64.12 in FY2022 for Municipal Judges R. Neel McDonald,Andrew Bradshaw and Claudia Martinez.
4. An hourly rate of$66.45 in FY2022 for Municipal Judge Simon Gonzalez
5. An hourly rate of$74.42 in FY2022 for Municipal Judge James D.Rodgers
Municipal Court Judge Place 9 will be appointed after an application process.
This MSC does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
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 upon approval of the above recommendations and adoption of the ordinance,funds will be available in the
current operating budget,as previously appropriated,in the General Fund. Prior to any expenditure being incurred,the Municipal Court
Department has the responsibility to validate the availability of funds.
Submitted for City Manager's Office by: Valerie Washington 6199
Originating Business Unit Head: William Rumuly 7461
Additional Information Contact: William Rumuly 7461
Expedited