Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 29.005. TERM OF OFFICE. The judge of a municipal court serves for a term of office of two years unless the municipality provides for a longer term pursuant to Article XI, Section 11, of the Texas Constitution. A municipal court judge who is not reappointed by the 91st day fo…

Sec. 29.006. TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT IN GENERAL-LAW MUNICIPALITIES. If a municipal judge of a municipality incorporated under the general laws of this state is temporarily unable to act, the governing body may appoint one or more persons meeting the qualifications for the position …

Sec. 29.007. MUNICIPAL COURT PANELS OR DIVISIONS; TEMPORARY JUDGES. (a) A home-rule city by charter or by ordinance may divide the municipal court into two or more panels or divisions, one of which shall be presided over by a presiding judge. Each additional panel or division sha…

Sec. 29.010. CLERK. (a) In a municipality that provides for the election of a municipal judge, the municipal court clerk is elected in the same manner unless by ordinance the city secretary serves as clerk. A city secretary who serves as clerk may be authorized to appoint a deput…

Sec. 29.011. VACANCY. The governing body of the municipality shall by appointment fill a vacancy in the office of municipal judge or clerk for the remainder of the unexpired term of office only. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.

Sec. 29.013. REPORT TO TEXAS JUDICIAL COUNCIL. (a) The secretary of the municipality in a municipality with a municipal court, including a municipal court of record, or the employee responsible for maintaining the records of the municipality's governing body shall notify the Texa…

Sec. 29.014. COURT SECURITY COMMITTEE. (a) The presiding or municipal judge, as applicable, shall establish a court security committee composed of: (1) the presiding or municipal judge, or the judge's designee; (2) a representative of the law enforcement agency or other entity th…

Sec. 29.015. LOCATION FOR COURT PROCEEDINGS AND TERMS AND SESSIONS OF COURT FOLLOWING CERTAIN DISASTERS. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, if a disaster, as defined by Section 418.004, precludes a municipal court from conducting its proceedings at the location assigned for the p…

Sec. 29.051. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Active judge" means a person who holds office as a district court judge or statutory county court judge. (2) "Presiding judge" means the presiding judge of a municipal court, including a municipal court of record. (3) "Regional pres…

Sec. 29.052. MOTION FOR RECUSAL OR DISQUALIFICATION. (a) A party in a hearing or trial in a municipal court, including a municipal court of record, may file with the clerk of the court a motion stating grounds for the recusal or disqualification of the municipal judge. The ground…

Sec. 29.053. NOTICE. A party filing a motion for recusal or disqualification under this subchapter shall serve on all other parties or their counsel: (1) copies of the motion; and (2) notice that the movant expects the motion to be presented to the judge three days after the fili…

Sec. 29.054. STATEMENT OPPOSING OR CONCURRING WITH MOTION. A party may file with the clerk of the court a statement opposing or concurring with a motion for recusal or disqualification at any time before the motion is heard. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1184 (H.B. 347…

Sec. 29.055. PROCEDURE FOLLOWING FILING OF MOTION; RECUSAL OR DISQUALIFICATION WITHOUT MOTION. (a) Before further proceedings in a case in which a motion for the recusal or disqualification of a municipal judge has been filed, the judge shall: (1) recuse or disqualify himself or …

Sec. 29.056. HEARING ON MOTION. (a) A regional presiding judge who receives a request for the assignment of a judge to hear a motion to recuse or disqualify shall: (1) immediately set a hearing before the regional presiding judge, an active judge, or a judge on the list of judges…

Sec. 29.057. PROCEDURE FOLLOWING GRANTING OF MOTION. (a) If a motion for recusal or disqualification is granted after a hearing is conducted as provided by Section 29.056, the judge who heard the motion shall enter an order of recusal or disqualification, and: (1) if the judge wh…

Sec. 29.058. APPEAL. (a) After a municipal court of record has rendered a final judgment in a case, a party may appeal an order that denies a motion for recusal or disqualification as an abuse of the court's discretion. (b) A party may not appeal an order that grants a motion for…

Sec. 29.059. CONTEMPT. If a party files a motion to recuse or disqualify under this subchapter and it is determined by the judge hearing the motion, at the hearing and on motion of the opposing party, that the motion to recuse or disqualify is brought solely for the purpose of de…

Sec. 29.060. COMPENSATION. (a) An active judge who is assigned to hear a motion to recuse or disqualify a municipal judge under this subchapter is not entitled to additional compensation other than travel expenses. A judge assigned to hear a motion to recuse or disqualify who is …

Sec. 29.101. MUNICIPALITY OF MORE THAN 250,000. (a) A municipality with a population of more than 250,000 may by ordinance establish two municipal courts. With the confirmation of the governing body of the municipality, the mayor may appoint two or more judges for the courts and …

Sec. 29.102. MUNICIPALITY OF 130,001 TO 285,000. (a) An incorporated municipality with a population of 130,001 to 285,000 by ordinance may establish up to four additional municipal courts. The judge of each additional court must meet the same qualifications and be selected in the…

Sec. 29.103. MUNICIPAL COURTS IN EL PASO. (a) The City of El Paso by ordinance may establish additional municipal courts as needed. The judge of each additional court must meet the same qualifications and be selected in the same manner as provided in the city charter for the judg…

Sec. 29.104. MUNICIPAL COURT PROCEEDINGS OUTSIDE CORPORATE LIMITS. The municipal court of a municipality with a population of 3,500 or less may conduct its proceedings within the corporate limits of a contiguous incorporated municipality. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, ef…

Sec. 29.105. MUNICIPAL COURT PROCEEDINGS IN MUNICIPALITY PARTICIPATING IN POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTRACT. A municipality that contracts with one or more municipalities for the operation of a joint police department may conduct its municipal court proceedings within the municipal limi…