Chapter 2.40
MUNICIPAL COURT
Sections:
2.40.010 Created and established.
2.40.020 Appointment of municipal judge.
2.40.030 Appointment of judge pro tem.
2.40.070 Judge subject to review.
2.40.080 Report of moneys collected.
2.40.010 Created and established.
A. There is created and established in the city an inferior court to be known and designated as the “Municipal Court of the City of Kelso,” which court shall have exclusive original criminal jurisdiction of all violations of city ordinances of the city and shall have original jurisdiction of all other actions brought to enforce or recover license penalties or forfeitures declared or given by city ordinances of state statute, full power to forfeit bail bonds and issue execution thereon and full power to forfeit cash bail.
B. The municipal court shall further have jurisdiction and shall exercise all powers granted by Chapter 299, Laws of 1961, Chapter 7 of the Laws of 1965, and Chapter 116, 1st Extraordinary Session Laws of 1965, together with such other powers and jurisdictions as are generally conferred in this state by either common law, rules of court or by statute upon municipal courts now or hereafter enacted. (Prior code § 1.26.010)
2.40.020 Appointment of municipal judge.
The mayor shall appoint as municipal judge, subject to the approval and concurrence of the city council, a duly elected justice of the peace of the county district justice court who shall be an attorney duly admitted to practice law in the state prior to his election as justice of the peace. The term of such appointment shall coincide with the elected term of such justice of the peace or until such time as the municipal court department shall be abolished in the manner provided by law. (Prior code § 1.26.020)
2.40.030 Appointment of judge pro tem.
At the request of the municipal judge, the mayor may appoint a judge or judges pro tem who shall act in the absence or disability of the regular municipal judge. Such judges pro tem shall be attorneys duly admitted to practice law in the state and practicing law in or residing in Cowlitz County or another duly elected justice of the peace in the county. (Ord. 3150 § 1, 1991; prior code § 1.26.030)
2.40.050 Court hours.
The municipal court shall be open and shall hold regular sessions on such days and during such hours and at such places within the city as the municipal judge may prescribe. Sessions shall not be scheduled if the effect thereof would increase the city's contribution to the salary and expenses of the municipal court without prior authorization of the city council. (Prior code § 1.26.050)
2.40.060 Salaries of judges.
The contribution of the city to the salary and expenses of the municipal court and the municipal judge shall be in proportion to the time the justice of the peace functions as municipal judge and in such amounts as have been currently included in the budget of the city for 1967 and such sums as may be thereafter budgeted from year to year. The contribution for judges pro tem shall be in such amounts as have been currently included in the budget of the city for 1967 and such sums as may be thereafter budgeted from year to year; provided, however, that in the event a duly elected full-time justice of the peace is appointed as judge pro tem, he shall receive no salary in addition to that fixed by the county justice court districting plan. (Prior code § 1.26.040)
2.40.070 Judge subject to review.
All civil or criminal proceedings before such municipal judge, and all judgments rendered by him, shall be subject to review in the superior court of the county by writ of review or appeal in the same manner as is provided by RCW 35.22.530 through 35.22.560. (Prior code § 1.26.100)
2.40.080 Report of moneys collected.
The municipal judge of the city shall provide the mayor and city council with a report not later than the second council meeting of each month on the income received during the preceding month. This report shall be on forms furnished by the city clerk and approved by the Division of Municipal Audits of the State Auditor's Office. (Prior code § 1.26.060)