DEPARTMENT: City Attorney's Office
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Martha G. Sepeda, Acting City Attorney
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Briefing and recommendation regarding Municipal Court Advisory Committee
SUMMARY:
A recommendation that the Municipal Court Advisory Committee be reconfigured as a Subcommittee of the Criminal Justice, Public Safety and Services Council Committee composed of two Councilmembers and one citizen to oversee the San Antonio Municipal Court.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Texas Constitution, City Charter and state law specifically authorize the basic structure of the San Antonio Municipal Court. The Municipal Court hears Class C misdemeanors, fine only criminal offenses that are mostly traffic tickets, code violations and minor state infractions. The Municipal Court handles over 300,000 cases a year and added truancy cases for certain school district to its dockets in 2010 and county-wide truancy cases since 2014. The City Council appoints all of the judges who serve two year terms. By practice, the presiding judge is appointed every odd numbered calendar year and the full time judges are appointed in even numbered years.
On April 2, 2015 Councilmember Ron Nirenberg filed a Council Consideration Request to discuss the judicial appointments and oversight of the San Antonio Municipal Court. On April 15, the Governance Committee directed staff to return to the Committee with a recommendation for the type of oversight best suited for the San Antonio Municipal Court.
Prior to 2003, municipal court operations reported to standing Municipal Court Council Committee composed of five council members. In 2003, a three councilmember Subcommittee of the Council Quality of Life Committee took charge. Both the Committee and Subcommittee met regularly regarding all matters related to Municipal Court, including the appointment of judges. In 2007 City Council created a Municipal Court Advisory Committee co...
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