DEPARTMENT: Municipal Courts
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Carla Obledo, Municipal Court Presiding Judge
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Resignation of Municipal Court Judge
SUMMARY:
This item will accept the resignation of Municipal Court Judge Christine Dauphin Lacy and declare the office vacant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The terms of the full-time and part-time Municipal Court Judges for the City of San Antonio expired April 30, 2020, and they are “holding over” under Article XII, Section 160 of the City Charter and in Chapter 20 of the City Code. The Municipal Court Advisory Committee undertook the appointment process in the Fall of 2019 and met on several occasions into early 2020 to consider the applications and make recommendations for appointments for Municipal Court Judges. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 disrupted this process before the City Council could act on the judicial appointments.
Christine Dauphin Lacy, a full-time Municipal Court Judge, submitted her resignation on June 22, 2020.
The Committee recommends the acceptance of the judge’s resignation and leave the position unfilled, declaring it vacant. The Committee also recommends to delay appointments of judges until after the City budget is adopted September 17, 2020.
ISSUE:
Municipal Court appointments require City Council approval.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could direct the Municipal Court Advisory Committee to interview and recommend appointments for the vacant Judge position prior to the adoption of the City Budget.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact on the General Fund as a result of this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council accept the judge’s resignation and leave the position unfilled, declare the position vacant, and delay appointments of judges until after the City’s FY 2021 Budget is adopted.