DEPARTMENT: Municipal Court
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Frederick P. Garcia, Court Clerk
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Reappointment of Full-time Municipal Court Judges
SUMMARY:
The subcommittee of the Criminal Justice, Public Safety and Services Committee met on Thursday, March 31, 2016 to review and interview the reappointment of the nine current, full-time judges.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Judicial reappointments for full-time judges are made by city council every two years, in even-numbered years and in odd years for the presiding judge. There are currently nine full-time municipal court judges who were previously appointed by city council, with terms due to expire on April 30, 2016, reference ordinance number 2014-04-10-0220. Municipal Court judges preside over class c misdemeanors and other fine only offenses.
The subcommittee of the Criminal Justice, Public Safety and Services Committee includes Councilmember Rebecca J. Viagran, Councilmember Mike Gallagher and Judge Ciro Rodriguez. The subcommittee held interviews on March 31, 2016. The following judges were interviewed: Clarissa L. Chavarria, Linda H. Conley, Lisa Gonzales, Daniel Guerrero, James Daniel Kassahn, Christine D. Lacy, Carla D. Obledo, Margarita Pol and Peter Andrew Zamora. Annual salaries for the full-time judges are currently set at $103,315.92. Life insurance and health and retirements currently extended to city employees are extended to the full-time judges.
ISSUE:
The terms for the San Antonio Municipal Court judges will expire April 30, 2016 and require reappointment.
ALTERNATIVES:
The alternative would require qualification of new applicants, leaving current judges in holdover until new appointments can be made. This will not change the term of office. Appointments are for the remainder of unexpired terms, beginning May 1, even-numbered year, and ending on April 30, two years later.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Judicial ...
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