HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 27393-01-2025 (2)ORDINANCE NO.27393-01-2025
AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING CYNTHIA FITCH AS A SUBSTITUTE
MUNICIPAL JUDGE FOR THE REMAINDER OF A TWO-YEAR TERM
COMMENCING JANUARY 25, 2025 AND ENDING MARCH 31, 2025 OR
UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS QUALIFIED AND APPOINTED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW; 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 THAT:
SECTION 1.
Cynthia Fitch be appointed as a Substitute Municipal Judge for the remainder of a two-
year term commencing January 25, 2025 and ending March 31, 2025, or until a successor is
qualified and appointed in accordance with state law.
SECTION 2.
This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances and of the Code of the
City of Fort Worth, Texas (2015), 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provisions of such ordinances and Code are hereby repealed.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 3.
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 4.
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Assistant City Attorney
ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE: January 14, 2025
2
CITY SECRETARY
Jannette S. Goodall
City Secretary
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City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 01/14/25 M&C FILE NUMBER; M&C 25-0051
LOG NAME: 38SUBSTITUTE JUDGE APPOINTMENT FITCH
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SUBJECT
(ALL) Adopt the Ordinance Appointing One (1) New Substitute Municipal Judge for the Remainder of a Two -Year Term, Commencing January 25,
2025, and Ending March 31, 2025
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council appoint Cynthia Fitch as a Substitute Municipal Judge for the remainder of a two-year term, commencing
January 25, 2025 and ending March 31, 2025, or until a successor is qualified and appointed in accordance with state law.
DISCUSSION:
Appointment of Substitute Municipal Judges
Chapter 30 of the Texas Government Code (the Uniform Municipal Courts of Record Act) sets out the requirements for appointment of judges for
municipal courts of record. Section 30.00008 of the Texas Government Code (the Uniform Municipal Courts of Record Act) states that the
governing body of a municipality may appoint one or more qualified persons to be available to serve for a municipal judge who is temporarily
absent due to illness, family death, continuing legal or judicial education programs or any other reason. The presiding judge shall select one of the
qualified persons appointed by the governing body to serve during the absence of a municipal judge. The substitute judge, while serving as a
municipal judge, has all the powers and shall discharge all the duties of a municipal judge.
Currently there are 8 Substitute Judicial Positions with 1 vacancy.
On October 22, 2024, Chief Judge Gonzalez presented an Informal Report to the Mayor and Members of the City Council concerning the Judicial
Appointment Process. That process has now been completed. Chief Judge Gonzalez is recommending to the City Council that Cynthia Fitch be
appointed as a Substitute Municipal Judge for the remainder of a two-year term commencing January 25, 2025, and ending March 31, 2025.
On January 14, 2025, the Legislative Affairs Committee approved the appointment recommendation of Cynthia Fitch as a Substitute Municipal
Judge for the remainder of a two-year term, commencing January 25, 2025 and ending March 31, 2025.
If approved by Mayor and Council, the individual listed above will be appointed as a Substitute Municipal Judges for the remainder of a two-year
term commencing January 25, 2025 and ending March 31, 2025.
Compensation of Substitute Municipal Judges
Compensation for Substitute Municipal Judges is $50.00 per hour worked.
Funding is budgeted in the Temporary Employee account within the within the General Fund for the Municipal Court Department.
A Form 1295 is not required because: This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
FISCAL TINIFORMATION I CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that upon approval of the recommendation, funds are available in the current operating budget, as previously
appropriated, in the General Fund. Prior to an 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