Presiding Judge

Description:

Job Summary:
This position reports to the City Council and is appointed by majority vote of the DeSoto City Council. The purpose of this position is to maintain jurisdiction of Municipal Court including Class C misdemeanors, City ordinance violations, Class C juvenile cases. This is accomplished by upholding laws; scheduling and presiding over municipal dockets; reviewing activities; enforcing laws and ordinances; administering policies and procedures; directing the preparation of court proceedings and other aspects of judicial authority by interpreting local, State and Federal laws, charter provisions, regulations and ordinances affecting the City.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Preside over municipal court trial proceedings (bench and jury), regular court dockets (first appearance, pretrial, show cause, failure to appear, juvenile, etc.), hearings (dangerous dog, cruelly treated animal, junked vehicle, stolen property, expunction, etc.);
• Issue rulings on evidentiary matters, adjudicate/dispose of cases, consider indigency and ability to pay issues, make findings of fact and law, and enter judgments;
• Review and rule upon evidentiary search and seizure warrants, DWI blood warrants, code administrative inspection and abatement warrants, and at-large arrest warrants as presented by law enforcement;
• Review appeal bonds, subpoenas, capias pro fine warrants, failure to appear warrants, jury charges, dismissals, motions, judgments, appeals, and other court issued documents;
• Review and/or deny requests for continuances;
• Develop and maintain court decorum and security practices and procedures;
• Educate defendants of their rights and municipal court procedures;
• Manage all magistrate jail operations, including 15.17 jail warnings, setting bail amounts, reviewing Sandra Bland Act notifications, complying with Public Safety Report System (PSRS) entry and certification; reviewing arrest affidavits to determine probable cause, reviewing and approving jail paperwork, and all other magistrate work needed at the jail;
• Assist with juvenile court and community outreach programs; and
• Perform other duties as assigned by city council.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor Degree;
• A minimum of nine (9) years criminal law work experience (criminal judge, prosecutor, and/or criminal defense);
• A minimum of one (1) year service as a municipal judge, justice of the peace, or criminal magistrate judge;
• Current license to practice law in the State of Texas, and ability to maintain license while employed;
• Required Texas Public Safety Report System (PSRS) training and certifications
• Or equivalent training, education, and/or experience; and
• Valid Texas Driver's License.

Supplemental Information:
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of relevant local, state, and federal laws, policies and procedures;
• Knowledge and mastery of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Rules of Evidence, Texas Transportation Code, and the Texas Penal Code;
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of municipal court administration;
• Ability to respond to requests for signature outside of regular Monday-Friday, 8am -5pm working hours;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office;
• Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing;
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with city administration, other employees, and the general public; and
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

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