Chapter 2.40
MUNICIPAL COURT1
Sections:
2.40.010 Created.
Effective January 1, 2005, there is hereby created the municipal court of the city of Normandy Park, Washington, hereinafter designated and referred to as the “municipal court.” The municipal court shall have the jurisdiction and shall exercise all powers declared by Chapter 3.50 RCW to be vested in the municipal court, together with such other powers and jurisdiction as are generally conferred upon such court in Washington State, either by common law or by express statute. The municipal court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over traffic infractions arising under city ordinances and exclusive original jurisdiction of all violations of city ordinances. It shall have original jurisdiction of all other actions brought to enforce or recover license penalties or forfeitures declared or given by city ordinances or state statutes. The court is empowered to forfeit cash bail or bail bonds and issue execution thereon. In general, the court may hear and determine all causes, civil or criminal, including traffic infractions, arising under ordinances of the city, and may pronounce judgment in accordance therewith. So long as the court participates in the program established by the office of the administrator for the courts pursuant to RCW 2.56.160, the municipal court shall have jurisdiction to take recognizance, approve bail, and arraign defendants held within its jurisdiction on warrants issued by any court of limited jurisdiction also participating in the program.
The operation of the court in such matters as jury trials, execution of sentences, suspension or deferral of sentences, and all other matters, shall be as provided by Chapter 3.50 RCW, as now or hereafter amended, which is hereby adopted by this reference as though fully set forth herein.
The court shall be open and shall hold such regular and special sessions as may be prescribed by the city, except that the municipal court shall not be open on nonjudicial days. Effective January 1, 2005, the court shall be open during times coincident with open hours of the city of Des Moines municipal court, and shall establish at least one-half day per month dedicated to bench trials, and shall schedule jury trials on an as-needed basis.
The city of Des Moines municipal court shall provide the city of Normandy Park municipal court during the term of an interlocal agreement between the cities for that purpose. (Ord. 746 § 1, 2004).
2.40.020 Judge.
Effective January 1, 2005, there is hereby created the position of judge of the Normandy Park municipal court. The judge shall be a citizen of the United States of America and of the state of Washington, and shall be an attorney admitted to the practice of law before the courts of record of the state of Washington. The judge need not be a citizen of the city of Normandy Park, but must be a citizen of King County, Washington. The judge shall be appointed by the city manager, subject to approval of the city council, for a four-year term; provided, however, that the first judge of the Normandy Park municipal court shall be appointed for a term to coincide with the term of the present judge of the Des Moines municipal court, and appointment of the incumbent judge of the Des Moines municipal court as the first judge of the Normandy Park municipal court is hereby confirmed.
Any vacancy in the municipal court due to the death, disability or resignation of the municipal court judge shall be filled by the city manager, subject to confirmation by the city council, and also consistent with the terms of an interlocal agreement between the city of Des Moines and the city of Normandy Park during the term of that agreement. The appointment shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.
The municipal court judge shall be removed from office only upon conviction of misconduct or malfeasance in office, or because of physical or mental disability rendering the judge incapable of performing the duties of office.
The salary of the judge of the municipal court shall be established by ordinance; provided, that payment for the judge shall be as provided by the terms of an interlocal agreement between the city of Des Moines and the city of Normandy Park during the term of that agreement. (Ord. 746 § 2, 2004).
2.40.030 Administrator.
Effective January 1, 2005, there is hereby created the position of administrator of the Normandy Park municipal court. The administrator shall be appointed by the city manager as an employee at will after considering the recommendation of the municipal court judge; provided, however, that the first administrator of the Normandy Park municipal court shall be the person serving as administrator of the city of Des Moines municipal court. The administrator shall perform all duties reasonable and necessary to conducting the business of the municipal court. The salary of the administrator shall be set by ordinance; provided, that payment for the administrator shall be as provided by the terms of an interlocal agreement between the city of Des Moines and the city of Normandy Park during the term of that agreement. (Ord. 746 § 3, 2004).
Code reviser’s note: Section 4 of Ordinance 746 provides: “This Ordinance supersedes Normandy Park Municipal Code (NPMC) Chapter 2.40 with respect to all cases filed after January 1, 2005.”
Prior legislation: Ords. 206 and 123.