MUNICIPAL COURTS

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII

in effect

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 1 CREATION.

SEC. 1. CREATION. The city council may, by ordinance, create and provide for municipal courts to be known as municipal courts of the City of Dallas, as it may deem necessary, and may appoint one or more municipal judges to serve each court. (Amend. of 6-12-73, Prop. No. 15)

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 2 JURISDICTION, POWER AND FINES.

SEC. 2. JURISDICTION, POWER AND FINES. The municipal court shall have jurisdiction: (1) over all criminal cases arising under the ordinances of the city within the city limits and outside the limits to the extent authorized by state law; (2) concurrent with the appropriate state court of all criminal cases arising under the criminal laws of the state, where the offense is committed within the city limits of Dallas and the penalty does not exceed that which is established for municipal courts by state law; (3) over the forfeiture and collection of bonds given in proceedings therein, and to order the forfeiture of cash acceptance bonds upon failure of the defendant to appear, and to accept same in lieu of a fine; (4) over cases involving a license or permit granted by the city for any calling, occupation, business or vocation. In addition to the punishment to be imposed therefor, the court may suspend or revoke the license or permit so granted; (5) enforce all process of the courts in accordance with state law and city ordinances, punish witnesses for failing to obey subpoenas, and compel their attendance by process of attachment; (6) punish for contempt, admit to bail, and forfeit bonds under such circumstances and as provided by county courts, or county courts exercising criminal jurisdiction only; (7) over all other matters and cases provided for by state law or city ordinance. (Amend. of 6-12-73, Prop. No. 16)

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 3 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE.

SEC. 3. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE. Except as otherwise provided by state law, practices and procedures in the municipal courts and appeals therefrom shall be as established by ordinances of the city council. (Amend. of 11-8-05, Prop. No. 3)

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 4 MUNICIPAL JUDGES; APPOINTMENT.

SEC. 4. MUNICIPAL JUDGES; APPOINTMENT. Each of the municipal courts of the City of Dallas shall be presided over by a judge or judges, each of whom shall be designated as municipal judge. Each judge shall be a practicing attorney of good standing. Biennially in May of each even-numbered year, the municipal judges shall be appointed by the council, which appointment shall designate the administrative judge. Each municipal judge shall hold office for two years from the date of appointment or until a successor is appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the council. In the event of any vacancy in the office of municipal judge by death, resignation, or otherwise, the city council shall appoint a qualified attorney to fill the unexpired term as municipal judge. The administrative judge designated by the city council shall be the administrative head of the judiciary of the city. As such, the administrative judge shall promulgate work rules concerning the administration of the court dockets, the times and places for holding court, equalizing of the case assignments, the vacation schedules, and other administrative details concerned with the judicial performance of the municipal courts, which rules shall be submitted to the city manager and city attorney for comment prior to adoption by the city council. Once adopted, the administrative judge shall be responsible to see that the rules are adhered to by all courts. The administrative judge shall make such reports as may be required by the city council. (Amend. of 6-12-73, Prop. No. 17; Amend. of 4-6-85, Prop. No. 2; Amend. of 11-8-05, Prop. No. 13)

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 4A REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL JUDGES.

SEC. 4A. REMOVAL OF MUNICIPAL JUDGES. (a) A full-time or associate municipal judge may be removed from office by a majority vote of all members of the city council if the council determines, after a hearing before the council, that the municipal judge: (1) does not meet any residency requirements for municipal judges established by city council ordinance; or (2) does not meet any other qualifications or requirements for municipal judges established by city ordinance, state or federal law, or other applicable law. (b) A full-time or associate municipal judge shall immediately forfeit his or her place with the city if he or she becomes a candidate for nomination or election to any public office (see Section 17 of Chapter III of this Charter). (Amend. of 11-8-05, Prop. No. 3; Amend. of 11-4-14, Prop. No. 7)

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 5 MUNICIPAL JUDGES; AUTHORITY.

SEC. 5. MUNICIPAL JUDGES; AUTHORITY. The municipal judges shall have power and authority to administer official oaths and affirmations and to give certificates thereof, and shall have full power and authority to place persons upon probation, to issue subpoenas, writs of capias, search warrants, executions and all other process known to the law which justice courts are by law authorized to issue in similar cases. (Amend. of 6-12-73, Prop. No. 18)

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 6 ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL JUDGES.

SEC. 6. ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL JUDGES. In May of each fourth year, associate municipal judges shall be appointed by city council. Associate municipal judges will receive their assignment from the administrative judge or the administrative judge’s designee. Each associate municipal judge shall be a practicing attorney of good standing. Each associate municipal judge must be a resident of the City of Dallas within four months of appointment. Each associate municipal judge shall hold office for a term that is equal to the length of terms for members of the city council, Places 1 through 14, from the date of appointment or until a successor is appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the council. In the event of any vacancy in the office of associate municipal judge by death, resignation, or otherwise, the city council may appoint a qualified attorney to fill the unexpired term as an associate municipal judge. The associate municipal judge is considered a part-time judge and is called upon as needed. (Amend. of 6-12-73, Prop. No. 19; Amend. of 11-8-05, Prop. No. 13; Amend. of 11-5-24)

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 7 COMPENSATION.

SEC. 7. COMPENSATION. Each of the municipal judges shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the council. (Amend. of 11-8-05, Prop. No. 3)

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 8 CLERK OF COURT.

SEC. 8. CLERK OF COURT. There shall be a clerk or clerks of the municipal court and such deputies as may be provided for by ordinance. The clerks shall be appointed by the city manager and shall receive such salary as may be fixed by the council. The deputies shall be those as selected under the civil service system. The clerks shall have the power to perform all things and acts usual and necessary to be performed by clerks of court in issuing process of said courts and conducting the business thereof, and such other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance of the city council. (Amend. of 11-8-05, Prop. No. 3)

Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 9 GENERAL LAWS; ACT CUMULATIVE OF.

SEC. 9. GENERAL LAWS; ACT CUMULATIVE OF. This chapter is cumulative of any laws that may now or hereafter be passed by the legislature regulating or increasing the jurisdiction of municipal courts in cities of the grade and size of the City of Dallas. (Amend. of 11-8-05, Prop. No. 3)

Source: City of Dallas, Dallas City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-50222Fetched: 10/26/2026