Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 30.00005. JURISDICTION. (a) A municipal court of record has the jurisdiction provided by general law for municipal courts. (b) The court has jurisdiction over criminal cases arising under ordinances authorized by Sections 215.072, 217.042, 341.903, and 551.002, Local Governm…

Sec. 30.00006. JUDGE. (a) A municipal court of record is presided over by one or more municipal judges. (b) The governing body shall by ordinance appoint its municipal judges. (c) A municipal judge must: (1) be a resident of this state; (2) be a citizen of the United States; (3) …

Sec. 30.00007. PRESIDING JUDGE. (a) If there is more than one municipal judge in the municipality, the governing body of the municipality shall appoint one of the judges as the presiding judge. (b) The presiding judge shall: (1) maintain a central docket for cases filed within th…

Sec. 30.00008. VACANCIES: TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT. (a) If a vacancy occurs in the office of municipal judge of a court of record, the governing body shall by ordinance or charter provide for the appointment of a qualified person to fill the office for the remainder of the unexpired…

Sec. 30.000085. REMOVAL OF JUDGE. A municipal judge of a general law municipality may be removed from office at any time for the reasons stated and by the procedure provided for the removal of members of a municipal governing body in Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Local Government Cod…

Sec. 30.00009. CLERK; OTHER PERSONNEL. (a) The governing body shall by ordinance provide for the appointment of a clerk of the municipal courts of record. The municipal clerk shall keep the records of the municipal courts of record, issue process, and generally perform the duties…

Sec. 30.00010. COURT REPORTER. (a) The municipality shall provide a court reporter to preserve a record in cases tried before a municipal court of record. The court reporter must meet the qualifications provided by law for official court reporters. The reporter shall be compensat…

Sec. 30.00011. PROSECUTIONS. All prosecutions in municipal courts of record shall be conducted as provided by Article 45A.005, Code of Criminal Procedure. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 811, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987. Renumbered from Government Code Sec. 30.490 by Acts 1997,…

Sec. 30.00012. COURT FACILITIES. The governing body shall provide courtrooms, jury rooms, offices, office furniture, libraries, law books, and other facilities and supplies that the governing body determines are necessary for the proper operation of the municipal courts of record…

Sec. 30.000123. LOCATION OF 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 of record from conducting its proceedings at the location assign…

Sec. 30.000125. SEAL. (a) The governing body shall provide each municipal court of record with a seal. (b) The seal's use must substantially conform to Article 45A.052, Code of Criminal Procedure. The seal must include the phrase "Municipal Court of/in __________, Texas." Added b…

Sec. 30.000126. COMPLAINT; PLEADING. Complaints and pleadings must substantially conform to the relevant provisions of Chapters 27 and 45A, Code of Criminal Procedure. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. …

Sec. 30.00013. JURY. (a) Ordinances, rules, and procedures concerning a trial by a jury, including the summoning of jurors, must substantially conform to Chapter 45A, Code of Criminal Procedure. (b) The presiding judge, the municipal court clerk, or the court administrator, as de…

Sec. 30.00014. APPEAL. (a) A defendant has the right of appeal from a judgment or conviction in a municipal court of record. The state has the right to appeal as provided by Article 44.01, Code of Criminal Procedure. The county criminal courts or county criminal courts of appeal …

Sec. 30.00015. APPEAL BOND. (a) If the defendant is not in custody, the defendant may not take an appeal until the defendant files an appeal bond with the municipal court of record. The bond must be approved by the court and must be filed not later than the 10th day after the dat…

Sec. 30.00016. RECORD ON APPEAL. The record on appeal must substantially conform to the provisions relating to the preparation of a record on appeal in the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 811, Sec. 1, eff. …

Sec. 30.00017. CLERK'S RECORD. The clerk's record must substantially conform to the provisions relating to the preparation of a clerk's record in the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 811, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 3…

Sec. 30.00018. BILLS OF EXCEPTION. Bills of exception must substantially conform to the provisions relating to the preparation of bills of exception in the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 811, Sec. 1, eff. …

Sec. 30.00019. REPORTER'S RECORD. (a) A reporter's record included in the record on appeal must substantially conform to the provisions relating to the preparation of a reporter's record in the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure. (b) The appella…

Sec. 30.00020. TRANSFER OF RECORD. (a) Not later than the 60th day after the date on which the notice of appeal is given or filed, the parties must file with the municipal clerk: (1) the reporter's record; (2) a written description of material to be included in the clerk's record…

Sec. 30.00021. BRIEF ON APPEAL. (a) An appellant's brief on appeal from a municipal court of record must present points of error in the manner required by law for a brief on appeal to the court of appeals. (b) The appellant must file the brief with the appellate court clerk not l…

Sec. 30.00022. NEW TRIAL. The trial court shall decide from the briefs of the parties whether the appellant should be permitted to withdraw the notice of appeal and be granted a new trial by the court. The court may grant a new trial at any time before the record is filed with th…

Sec. 30.00023. COURT RULES. (a) Except as modified by this subchapter, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure govern the trial of cases before the municipal courts of record. The courts may make and enforce all rules of practice and procedure ne…

Sec. 30.00024. DISPOSITION ON APPEAL. (a) According to the law and the nature of the case, the appellate court may: (1) affirm the judgment of the municipal court of record; (2) reverse and remand for a new trial; (3) reverse and dismiss the case; or (4) reform and correct the ju…

Sec. 30.00025. CERTIFICATE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS. (a) When the judgment of the appellate court becomes final, the clerk of that court shall certify the proceedings and the judgment and shall mail the certificate to the municipal clerk. The municipal clerk shall file the certif…

Sec. 30.00026. EFFECT OF ORDER OF NEW TRIAL. If the appellate court awards a new trial to the appellant, the case stands as if a new trial had been granted by the municipal court of record. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 811, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987. Renumbered from Govern…

Sec. 30.00027. APPEALS TO COURT OF APPEALS. (a) The appellant has the right to appeal to the court of appeals if: (1) the fine assessed against the defendant exceeds $100 and the judgment is affirmed by the appellate court; or (2) the sole issue is the constitutionality of the st…

Sec. 30.00041. APPLICATION; DEFINITION. (a) This subchapter applies to the City of Lubbock. (b) In this subchapter, "appellate courts" means the county courts at law of Lubbock County that have criminal appellate jurisdiction. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, …

Sec. 30.00044. JUDGE. (a) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 139(1), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. (b) A municipal judge is elected by the qualified voters of the city for a term of four years. (c) A municipal judge must be a licensed attorney in good standing, must have pract…

Sec. 30.00046. COURT REPORTER. (a) , (b) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 139(1), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. (c) Section 30.00010(d) does not apply to this subchapter. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Renumbered from Government Code Sec. 30.006 b…

Sec. 30.00049. COMPLAINT; PROSECUTION; PLEADING. (a) A proceeding in a municipal court of record commences with a complaint. The complaint must begin "In the name and by the authority of the State of Texas" and must conclude "Against the peace and dignity of the State." If the of…

Sec. 30.00081. APPLICATION; DEFINITION. (a) This subchapter applies to the City of Irving. (b) In this subchapter, "appellate courts" means the county criminal courts of Dallas County that have criminal appellate jurisdiction. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 477, Sec. 1, eff. …

Sec. 30.00084. JUDGE. (a) to (g) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 139(2), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. (h) In addition to exercising powers under Section 30.00006, a municipal judge, with the approval of all parties, may order a defendant and the victim or complainant in a …

Sec. 30.00085. CLERK; OTHER PERSONNEL. (a) The city manager of the city may appoint a clerk of the municipal court of record who may hire, direct, and remove the personnel authorized in the city's annual budget for the clerk's office. The clerk shall perform the duties in accorda…

Sec. 30.00086. COURT REPORTER. (a) The clerk of the court shall appoint the court reporter under Section 30.00010. (b) to (d) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 139(2), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 477, Sec. 1, eff. June 12, 1995. Renumbered…

Sec. 30.00121. SHORT TITLE; APPLICATION. (a) This subchapter may be cited as the El Paso Courts Act. (b) This subchapter applies to the City of El Paso. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Renumbered from Government Code, Sec. 30.031 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg.…

Sec. 30.00122. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "appellate court" means the El Paso Municipal Court of Appeals. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Renumbered from Government Code, Sec. 30.032 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 8.06, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 30.00123. MARRIAGE CEREMONIES. The judge of the appellate court and each municipal judge may conduct marriage ceremonies in the city. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Renumbered from Government Code, Sec. 30.033 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec…

Sec. 30.00128. JUDGE. (a) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 691, Sec. 139(3), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. (b) A municipal judge is elected by the qualified voters of the city for a term of two years unless the city by charter amendment provides for a four-year term as provided by Art…

Sec. 30.00129. COURT CLERK; OTHER PERSONNEL. In addition to satisfying the requirements of Section 30.00009, the governing body of the city shall provide a clerk of the municipal courts of record, deputy clerks, and other municipal court personnel, including at least one bailiff …

Sec. 30.00130. COURT REPORTER; USE OF CLERK'S RECORDS. (a) To preserve a record in cases tried before the municipal courts of record, the city shall provide a court reporter. The governing body of the city shall determine the qualifications and compensation of the court reporter.…

Sec. 30.00136. CONTINUATION OF MUNICIPAL COURT OF APPEALS. (a) The El Paso Municipal Court of Appeals continues in existence as long as a municipal court of record exists in the city. (b) If the municipal court of record ordinance is repealed, the appellate court continues in exi…

Sec. 30.00137. APPELLATE COURT JURISDICTION. (a) The appellate court has exclusive jurisdiction over all appeals from the municipal courts of record of the city. The county courts at law of El Paso County have no jurisdiction over appeals from municipal courts. (b) The appellate …

Sec. 30.00138. TERM OF COURT. The appellate court may sit for the transaction of business at any time during the year, and each term begins and ends with the calendar year. The appellate court may use the city council chambers or other appropriate location as its courtroom for ar…

Sec. 30.00139. APPELLATE COURT CLERK. In addition to other duties, the city clerk serves as the appellate court clerk. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Renumbered from Government Code, Sec. 30.049 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 8.06, eff. Sept. 1…

Sec. 30.00140. APPELLATE COURT JUDGE. (a) The appellate judge shall be elected by the qualified voters of the city for a term of two years, unless the city by charter amendment provides for a four-year term as provided by Article XI, Section 11, of the Texas Constitution. The app…