Judges.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 16-3
in effectSec. 16-3. - Judges.
(a) The city shall have both full-time and substitute municipal judges. A substitute municipal judge shall be classified as an "Associate Judge of Municipal Courts."
(b) Each municipal judge shall meet the qualifications for that office that are prescribed by state law. Additionally, each municipal judge shall at the time of appointment and qualification be required to be a resident of the city.
(c) Each full-time municipal judge shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council for a term of four years, which term shall begin as of the date the appointment is confirmed by the city council. Each substitute judge shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council for a term of two years, which term shall begin as of the date the appointment is confirmed by the city council. A municipal judge shall continue in office after his term has expired until he is reappointed or his successor has been appointed and qualified; provided, that no holdover period, regardless of duration, shall ever be deemed a reappointment of any municipal judge. If an office becomes vacant during a term, then a qualified person shall be appointed and confirmed to the completion of the unexpired term.
(d) Municipal judges shall be subject to removal from office as provided by state law.
(e) Full-time municipal judges shall be entitled to compensation as provided or authorized by ordinance. Substitute municipal judges shall be compensated on a per diem basis for services rendered, as provided in section 16-5 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 00-325, § 1, 4-26-00; Ord. No. 05-340, § 2, 4-6-05; Ord. No. 09-510, § 3, 6-10-09; Ord. No. 2015-1301, § 2, 12-15-2015, eff. 12-22-2015)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH16MUCO_ARTIINGE_S16-3JUFetched: 10/26/2026