HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 26986-06-2024ORDINANCE NO.26986-06-2024
AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING ANDREW T. BRADSHAW ,
RAQUEL D. BROWN, SIMON C. GONZALEZ, MELANIE A.
HOUSTON, THADDEUS A. IWUJI, CARLA G. KELMAN,
CLAUDIA A. MARTINEZ, R. NEEL MCDONALD AND
PATRICIA L. SUMMERS AS MUNICIPAL JUDGES FOR A TWO-
YEAR TERM COMMENCING APRIL 1, 2024 AND ENDING
MARCH 31, 2026 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 ANDREW T. BRADSHAW
AS DEPUTY CHIEF JUDGE; APPOINTMENT OF SIMON G.
GONZALEZ AS 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 I, 2024 and ending March 31, 2026, or until a successor is qualified and appointed in
accordance with state law:
Municipal Court Judge Place 1: Vacant;
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: Carla G. Kelman;
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 Simon C. Gonzalez be appointed as Chief Judge and that Andrew T. Bradshaw 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 (20I5), 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and Code are hereby repealed.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.
SECTION 5.
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Assistant City Attorney
ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE: June 25, 2024
E
CITY SECRETARY
r'.'k ..tam s
Jannette S. Goodall
City Secretary
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 06/25/24 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 24-0596
LOG NAME: 38MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE REAPPOINTMENT 2024
SUBJECT
(ALL) Adopt Attached Ordinance Reappointing the (9) Municipal Court Judges , Designating a Chief Judge and Designating a Deputy Chief
Judge for a Two Year Term Commencing April 1, 2024, and Ending March 31, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Reappoint Andrew T. Bradshaw, Raquel D. Brown, Simon C. Gonzalez, Melanie A. Houston, Thaddeus A. Iwuji, Carla G. Kelman, Claudia A.
Martinez, R. Neel McDonald, and Patricia L. Summers as Municipal Judges for a two-year term commencing April 11 2024, and ending
March 31, 2026, or until a successor is qualified and appointed in accordance with state law;
2. Designate Simon C. Gonzalez as Chief Judge; and
3. Designate Andrew T. Bradshaw as Deputy Chief Judge.
DISCUSSION:
Reappointment of Municipal Court Judges, Designation of Chief Judge, and Designation of 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 Govemment Code requires the goveming 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 including 1 Chief Judge vacancy.
On Tuesday, June 11th, the Legislative Affairs Committee met to discuss the judicial candidates reviewed for recommended reappointment.
The Legislative Affairs Committee is recommending to the City Council that Andrew T. Bradshaw, Raquel D. Brown, Simon C. Gonzalez, Melanie
Houston, Thaddeus Iwuji, Carla G. Kelman, Claudia A. Martinez, Robert Neel McDonald, and Patricia L. Summers be reappointed as Municipal
Judges for a two-year term commencing Aprii 1, 2024 and ending March 31, 2026.
It is further recommended that Simon C. Gonzalez be designated as the Chief Judge at a salary of $91.351HR, and Andrew T. Bradshaw be
designated as Deputy Chief Judge at a salary of $81.73/HR. No salary changes are being recommended for the remaining judges being
reappointed.
A Form 1295 is not required because: This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
FISCAL INFORMATION I CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that approval of this recommendation will have no material effect on City funds.
,9tibmitted for City Manager's Office by; Valerie Washington 6199
Originating_ Business Unit Head:
Additional Information Contact:
William Rumuly 7461
William Rumuly 7461
Expedited