DEPARTMENT: Office of the City Attorney
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Andrew Segovia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Municipal Court Advisory Committee
SUMMARY:
Amendment to Restructure the Municipal Court Advisory Committee
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Municipal Court Advisory Committee was created on May 31, 2007, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2007-05-31-0595, to function as a City Council liaison to Municipal Court and to provide recommendations on matters pertaining to Municipal Court, for example, recommendations for judicial nominations.
Members serve two-year terms of office and can serve up to three 2-year terms.
The current Board consists of the following members:
• 1 voting member from the membership of the San Antonio Bar Association
• 1 voting member who currently serves as a Judge, but not with the San Antonio Municipal Court
• 2 voting members who are residents of the City of San Antonio
• The Mayor of San Antonio who serves as a voting member
• The Presiding Judge of the San Antonio Municipal Court (non-voting member)
ISSUE:
We are recommending changes to the ordinance establishing the composition of the Municipal Court Advisory Committee and recommending new appointments to the Committee. Once constituted, the new committee can develop policies and evaluation criteria for the appointment of Municipal Court judges, and review Municipal Court practices and policies to advise the City Council on amendments.
Full-time Municipal Court judge nominations and appointments are to take place in the Spring of 2018.
Mayor Nirenberg has recommended, and we concur, that the Committee be restructured as follows:
• 2 non-municipal court judges
• 1 lawyer with experience practicing before Municipal Court
• 3 councilmembers
• The Mayor (ex- officio, voting member)
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council could leave Committee composition as is, and make appointments accordingly.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the composition and charge of the Municipal Court Advisory Committee be amended by Council, so that the Committee may begin work on the appointment procedures for Municipal Court Judges.