Municipal Judge - Substitute

Pay Range: $50.00 per/hr.

Job Post Closing on Friday, November 29, 2024

The City of Fort Worth is the 12th largest city in the U.S. and the fastest growing among large cities. Fort Worth has received multiple accolades, including number one Downtown (Livability), and the second-best City in the nation for Job Seekers (Forbes). Our employees serve the needs of approximately 1,000,000 residents. We are seeking individuals that reflect our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.

The City of Fort Worth Municipal Court Department—Municipal Court of Record Division is seeking a qualified attorney to fill the Municipal Court Judge – Substitute position. This part-time judge position will assist with all operations, services, and activities of the Municipal Court. The ideal candidate will:

• have a clear understanding of theories, practices, and procedures of civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law;
• understand complex principles and practices of public law, established precedents, and sources of legal reference applicable to a municipal court;
• be knowledgeable of warrant issuance practices and procedures, as well as methods and techniques of legal research, literature, and sources of information related to court proceedings; and
• be familiar with Federal and State laws, Fort Worth Municipal Code, Texas Rules of Evidence, Texas Penal Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Traffic law, Texas Animal/Health Law, and Juvenile Law.

 This Substitute Judge position will work primarily at the Belknap Detention Center located at 350 W. Belknap, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Judges are on-duty and/or on-call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. The Arraignment Court work assignments at 350 W. Belknap are: 1st shift (12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.), 2nd shift (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), and 3rd shift (4 p.m. to 12 a.m.).

**The essential job function of this position requires the Applicant to work or be available to substitute for the full-time judges working at 350 W. Belknap on weekends and holidays, in addition to any other assigned shifts.**

Note: This is a part-time position with a maximum of 19 hours per week and not eligible for city benefits.

The Chief Judge is responsible for screening applicants and making a recommendation to the City Council.  The Fort Worth City Council appoints or reappoints Substitute Municipal Court Judges for a term of two (2) years, commencing April 1 of each odd numbered year.

The Municipal Court Judge – Substitute job responsibilities include:

• Presiding over jury and non-jury trials; and instructing jury panels regarding applicable laws, procedures, and sentences or fines if offender is convicted.
• Presiding over various dockets as assigned including plea dockets, juvenile/truancy dockets, environmental/code dockets, revocation dockets, arraignment dockets, and other dockets as necessary.
• Arbitrating disputes and advising counsel, jury, litigants, and Court personnel on Court procedures; administering the judicial system; and settling disputes between opposing parties.
• Issuing search and arrest warrants; setting and forfeiting bail for Class C misdemeanors falling under municipal court jurisdiction; and setting bail for felony and misdemeanor arrest warrants.
• Processing Class C warrant queues, administrative dockets, cash dockets, and miscellaneous dockets.
• Reviewing new laws, major court decisions, and other pertinent information relevant to Court procedures and operations on an ongoing basis.
• Attending staff meetings, as well as required continuing legal and judicial education.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school;
• Two (2) or more years of increasingly responsible experience in the practice of law in Texas;
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid license as an attorney issued by the Supreme Court of the State of Texas, and a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas;
• Be a citizen of the United States and the State of Texas;
• Reside in Fort Worth at the time of appointment; and
• Maintain residence in Fort Worth during the tenure of office.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Organization and time management
• Ability to maintain control of a courtroom
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively; resolve conflict; utilize strong decision making and critical thinking skills in accordance with law, regulation, and policies
• Ability to interpret and apply legal principles and knowledge to complex legal problems
• Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships

Working Conditions:

Applicants for this position must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Due to CJIS requirements related to system access, the following will result in being disqualified for this position: Felony Convictions, Felony Differed Adjudication, Class A Misdemeanor Conviction, Class B Misdemeanor Convictions in the last 10 years, Class A Misdemeanor, Differed Adjudication, Class B Misdemeanor Differed Adjudication in the last 10 years, an Open Arrest for Any Criminal Offense (Felony or Misdemeanor), and ALL Family Violence Convictions regardless of class.