JUDGES

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 33, art. II

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 33-21 Appointment.

§ 33-21. - Appointment. The Council shall appoint a minimum of four Judges who shall serve as Judges of the Municipal Court. One of the Judges shall be designated Presiding Municipal Judge. (Code 1970, § 2-23(a); Code 1980, § 33-21; Ord. No. 16612, § 2, 3-30-82; Ord. No. 19319, § 1, 11-14-89)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 33-22 Terms of office.

§ 33-22. - Terms of office. Municipal Judges shall be appointed for terms of two years that expire on July 1, except that two of the judges appointed for the year starting on July 1, 2013, shall hold over for one additional year with their successors to be appointed for a term commencing July 1, 2016. At the time the appointments for terms commencing July 1, 2013 are made by the Council, the Council shall designate the two judges who shall serve until July 1, 2016. (Code 1970, § 2-23(b); Code 1980, § 33-22; Ord. No. 16612, § 2, 3-30-82; Ord. No. 20276, § 1, 1-24-95; Ord. No. 24697, § 1, 7-2-13)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 33-23 Practice of law.

§ 33-23. - Practice of law. No full-time Municipal Judge shall engage in the practice of law while holding office. (Code 1970, § 2-23(f); Code 1980, § 33-26; Ord. No. 16612, § 2, 3-30-82)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 33-24 Special Judges, term.

§ 33-24. - Special Judges, term. (a) The Council shall appoint a minimum of five Special Judges who shall be subject to the same qualifications and restrictions as the Municipal Judges, and shall act as a Municipal Judge during the absence, illness or disqualification of a Municipal Judge. Special Judges may not practice in the Oklahoma City Municipal Criminal Court of Record. (b) Term. Each Special Judge shall be appointed to office for a term of two years and shall serve until his successor is appointed and qualified. Terms shall expire on June 30 of the appropriate year. Any appointments to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term of office. (Code 1970, § 2-24; Code 1980, § 33-27; Ord. No. 16612, § 2, 3-30-82; Ord. No. 17268, § 1, 7-19-83; Ord. No. 19146, § 1, 1-24-89)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 33-25 Designation of presiding Judge and vice presiding Judge, duties and term of presiding Judge.

§ 33-25. - Designation of presiding Judge and vice presiding Judge, duties and term of presiding Judge. (a) The Council shall select and designate the presiding Judge and vice presiding Judge. Such selections and designations shall be effected by resolution of Council. (b) In addition to the regular duties as a Municipal Judge, the presiding Judge, or in the absence of the presiding Judge the vice presiding Judge, shall: (1) assign cases from the various Municipal Courts among the Judges as deemed best. (2) assign duties to one or more Special Judges in case of the absence or inability of any of the Municipal Judges. (3) promulgate uniform court rules of procedure. (4) review the list of Special Judges annually or at sooner intervals as may be necessary and recommend appointments to the Council. (5) perform such other acts as required to execute the ordinances and resolutions of the City, the Charter, and the statutes of the state. Nothing in this section shall be construed as an encroachment in any manner upon the duty, obligation and power of the Judges of the Municipal Courts to be the sole Judges of the merits of the respective cases before them and to render their judgments accordingly. (c) The presiding Judge and vice presiding Judge selected and designated by the Council after the effective date of this section shall serve at the pleasure of the Council. (Code 1970, § 2-25; Code 1980, § 33-28; Ord. No. 16612, § 2, 3-30-82; Ord. No. 19319, § 2, 11-14-89; Ord. No. 20175, § 1, 6-28-94; Ord. No. 20295, § 1, 2-28-95; Ord. No. 21988, § 1, 6-25-02)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 33-26 Powers of Municipal Judges.

§ 33-26. - Powers of Municipal Judges. The Municipal Judges shall have power to keep and preserve the records of the court, certify transcripts, impose sentencing, issue warrants of arrest upon the filing of written verified complaints, and shall have and possess such powers as are possessed by the District Judge and as authorized by State law. The Judges shall have powers to issue discretionary alias warrants, subpoena witnesses, to issue subpoena duces tecum, and enforce attendance, if necessary. The Judges shall also have the power to administer oaths, to enforce due obedience to all orders, rules and judgments made by the court, and may fine up to $500.00 or imprison for up to six months in the City Jail, or both such fine and imprisonment for contempt, either indirect or direct, committed while holding court, or to process and/or order issued by him/her. (Ord. No. 20333, § 1, 5-2-95; Ord. No. 20496, § 1, 12-12-95; Ord. No. 21506, § 1, 6-13-00)

Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH33MUCO_ARTIIJUFetched: 10/28/2026