HomeMy WebLinkAbout2103 ResolutionRESOLUTION NO 2103
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Mary Ramirez as Municipal
Court Judge upon her acceptance of the conditions stated herem, and
regulating the operation of the Pasco Municipal Court
WHEREAS, the City of Pasco operates a Municipal Court governed by Ch
3 50 RCW, and
WHEREAS, the Mayor has elected to appoint Mary Ramirez as Municipal
Court Judge for that term of office beginning January 1, 1994, upon the
confirmation by the City Council and the wntten acceptance by Mary Ramirez of
the terms and conditions of the appointment stated herein, and
WHEREAS, the operation of the Pasco Municipal Court is an
important matter to the citizens of Pasco and local government, NOW,
THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON, DO
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
§1. The appointment of Mary Ramirez as Pasco Municipal Court Judge is
confirmed upon her written acceptance of the terms and conditions of her
appointment set forth herein for a four-year term of office beginning January 1,
1994
§2. The salary for the Municipal Court Judge position is to be set y
Ordinance as required by law The position is part-time with an expectation of
30 hours per week being required to fulfill the duties of the position No
other benefits shall accrue except a two-week vacation leave (one standard
payroll penod) per calendar year without loss of pay
§3. The Municipal Court shall operate in open session on Tuesdays for
non-jury matters m the District Courtroom of the Franklin County Public
Safety Buulding Jury trial settings shall be for 8 30 a m on Fridays with
special settings for non-jury matters on Mondays, provided, however, the
City Manager may modify the dates, times and places when the court shall be in
session
§4. The Municipal Court Judge shall have regular weekly office hours
at the Municipal Court for the performance of her administrative responsibilities
and other necessary business of the court at such times as agreed upon between
the Municipal Court Judge and the City Manager
§5. It shall be the duty of the Municipal Court Judge to make,
without unreasonable delay, new local court rules not inconsistent with the court
rules for justice courts in the State of Washington reasonably necessary to
fulfilling the duties and obligations of the office and to otherwise promote the
Officient and judicious operation of the Pasco Municipal Court, and to revise the
same from time to time as circumstances dictate
§6. Cases involving the City Attorney shall be given a preferential
setting and hearing over other cases Cases involving the City Attorney shall
be in blocks of time so as to make the most effective use of the City
Attorney's time
(1) The Municipal Court Judge shall accept her duties as Judge
as her first pnonty and in cases of conflict or potential conflict shall give
first pnonty to Municipal Court matters Whenever, because of illness or
other sufficient reason approved by the City Manager, the Municipal Court Judge
cannot be on the bench, then a judge pro-tern approved by the City Manager shall
preside in her absence
(2) In order to avoid conflicts or the appearance of impropnety, neither
the appointee's spouse, Joseph Ramirez, nor any other present or future law
partner or associate of the appointee, shall accept the defense of cases filed in
Pasco Municipal Court
(3) The appointee shall not participate in any cnmmal defense panel or
contract for indigent defense in any court
§8. Time pay agreements for the payment of penalties, fmes and costs
totaling Fifty Dollars ($50) and less, shall not be granted by the Municipal
Court, unless specifically ordered by the Municipal Court Judge when exceptional
circumstances of financial hardship are found by the Judge to exist Time
payment agreements for fines, penalties and costs shall be consistent with
standards determined jointly between the Judge and City Manager
§9. The enforcement of city regulatory ordinances in the areas of
environmental regulation, animal control, nuisance abatement and the like are
important to the city and the Municipal Court Judge shall accept her
responsibility for working for the effective enforcement of ordinances in the
areas of sentencing and case disposition Nothing in this section should be
construed to infringe upon the Municipal Court Judge's discretion in fact
finding, the application of the law to the facts and the fair administration of
justice
2
b0-12.,17 _efe,Le
DEFELICE
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco at its Regular
Meeting dated December 6, 1993
ATTEST
--CAT
Dep ty City Clerk
RM
EG A. RUBSTEL 0
ity Attorney