Municipal judges are elected by city voters, and the judges choose a presiding judge; the presiding judge has several case-management powers, and the presiding judge’s salary must be at least 20% higher than a regular municipal judge’s salary.
Sec. 30.00128. JUDGE. (a) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 139(3), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. (b) A municipal judge is elected by the qualified voters of the city for a term of two years unless the city by charter amendment provides for a four-year term as provided by Article XI, Section 11, of the Texas Constitution. (c), (d) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 139(3), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. (e) The municipal judges shall select by a majority vote of those judges a presiding judge of the municipal courts of record. (f) The presiding municipal judge may, when necessary for the expeditious disposition of the business of the courts and with the approval of the governing body of the city, divide a municipal court of record into one or more divisions. A division is presided over by an associate municipal judge. A division has concurrent jurisdiction with the other divisions and municipal courts of record. Divisions of the courts may be in concurrent and continuous session, either day or night, at the discretion of the presiding judge. The presiding judge may assign and transfer any case pending in any of the courts or divisions to any other of the courts or divisions. The presiding judge may direct the manner in which cases are filed and docketed. He may assign a case or proceeding pending in any of the courts to the judge of another court or division. He may assign the judge of any of the courts or divisions to try a case or hear a proceeding pending in another court or division. (g) In addition to complying with Section 30.00006(h), the salary of the presiding judge must be set at an amount that is at least 20 percent more than the salary of the regular municipal judges. (h) to (k) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 139(3), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. (l) Section 30.00007(b) does not apply to this subchapter. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Renumbered from Government Code, Sec. 30.038 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 8.06, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 9, 139(3), eff. Sept. 1, 1999.