Chapter 2.44
COURTS1
Sections:
2.44.010 Court established – Jurisdiction.
2.44.020 Appointment of judge.
2.44.060 Pleadings, practice, and procedures.
2.44.010 Court established – Jurisdiction.
There is created and established an inferior court to be known and designated as a municipal court entitled “the municipal court of the city of Chehalis,” which court shall have exclusive original criminal jurisdiction of all violations of city ordinances and shall have original jurisdiction of all other actions brought to enforce and recover license penalties or forfeitures declared or given by such city ordinances or by the state statutes. Said municipal court shall further have jurisdiction and shall exercise all powers granted by Chapter 3.50 RCW et seq., as now in force or hereafter amended, together with such other powers and jurisdictions as are generally conferred in this state by either common law or by express statutes upon said municipal court. [Ord. 692B, 2001.]
2.44.020 Appointment of judge.
The judge of the municipal court shall be appointed by the city manager, subject to the confirmation by the city council, for a term of four years. Appointments shall be made in like manner by the fifteenth day of December preceding the end of every such four-year term. The person appointed as municipal court judge shall be a United States citizen, a citizen of the state of Washington, and an attorney duly admitted to practice law before the courts of record in the state of Washington. The position of such municipal judge shall be on a part-time basis. An additional part-time judge may be appointed by the city manager, subject to approval of the city council, in the same manner as hereinabove set forth, whenever public interest and the administration of justice requires the appointment of such additional judge. [Ord. 692B, 2001.]
2.44.030 Judge pro tem.
The municipal court judge shall appoint judges pro tem when necessary for the administration of justice and accomplishment of the work of the court, which judges pro tem shall have the same qualifications as the judge of the municipal court. [Ord. 692B, 2001.]
2.44.040 Salary of judge.
The salary of the municipal court judge shall be as established in the annual budget of the city. A reduction in the salary of the municipal court judge shall be made in such amount paid for the services of any judge pro tem, except when such services are necessitated by the municipal court judge having a conflict of interest, attending professional training, conferences, or other meetings on behalf of or for the benefit of the city and as approved in advance by the city manager. [Ord. 692B, 2001.]
2.44.050 Court – Hours open.
The municipal court shall be open and shall hold regular sessions on such days and during such hours as the municipal court judge shall prescribe, but shall not be less than twice each month. [Ord. 692B, 2001.]
2.44.060 Pleadings, practice, and procedures.
Pleadings, practice, and procedures in cases not governed by statutes or rules specifically applicable to municipal courts shall, insofar as applicable, be governed by the statutes and rules now existing or as may hereafter be adopted as governing the pleadings, practice, and procedures applicable to justice courts. [Ord. 692B, 2001.]
Code reviser’s note: For statutory and additional provisions on municipal courts, see Chapters 3.46 and 3.50 RCW.