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>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 29 MUNICIPAL COURT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING. THE TIME IS NOW 1:03 P.M. AND WE'LL CALL THE ORDER. MADAME CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL.
>> CLERK: SIR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK. THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 5, 2023 MEETING. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
>> SO MOVE. >> SECOND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SOUNDS GOOD.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> OPPOSED? MINUTES ARE APPROVED. TODAY SHOULD BE A FAIRLY QUICK MEETING. WE'LL PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
MADAME CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? ONE DAY.
SO NOW THAT WE'VE COMPLETED PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO TODAY'S ITEM, WHICH IS FOR BRIEFING PURPOSING ONLY. I'LL HAND IT OVER TO JUDGE CARLA OBLEDO FOR HER
PRESENTATION. >> CHAIR, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY . I'M GOING TO DISCUSS THE ELIGIBILITY AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR THE FULL AND PART-TIME JUDGES.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE CURRENTLY TEN FULL-TIME JUDGES AND NINE PART-TIME JUDGES.
EACH JUDGE IS APPOINTED TO A TWO-YEAR TERM. THE TERM EXPIRES APRIL 30, 2024. WHEN A JUDGE IS APPOINTED INTO OFFICE, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM 16 HOURS OF JUDICIAL EDUCATION ANNUALLY, AND THAT'S OFFERED THROUGH THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURT EDUCATION CENTER . JUDGES ARE -- OVERSIGHT IS PROVIDED BY THE STATE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT.
AND THE TEXAS CODE ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT STATES THAT BASIC STANDARDS WHICH SHOULD GOVERN THE CONDUCT OF ALL JUDGES AND TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO ASSIST JUDGES IN ESTABLISHING HIGH STANDARDS OF JUDICIAL AND PERSONAL CONDUCT . SO THAT IS -- THAT PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO THE JUDGES ON HOW, NOT ONLY SHOULD THEY BE PERFORMING IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY BUT ALSO IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AS WELL.
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES SHALL FOLLOW ALL RULES OF PRACTICE, PROCEDURE, AND OPERATION CONTAINED IN THE ORDINANCES AND THE CITY AND STATE LAW. THE ROLE OF THE CITY COUNCIL IS TO APPOINT ALL THE FULL AND PART-TIME MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES.
THE APPOINTMENT IS BY A FULL COUNCIL ACTION AT AN OPEN MEETING.
BY ORDINANCE THIS COMMITTEE MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHO THEY FEEL THE COUNCIL SHOULD APPOINT AS A PART-TIME JUDGE -- AS A FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME JUDGE, EXCUSE ME.
ONCE APPOINTED, THE SALARY AND BENEFITS ARE ALSO ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE AT THE TIME OF THE APPOINTMENT. A JUDGE'S IT CANNOT BE BASED ON FINES, FEES, OR COSTS COLLECTED. SO THEY CAN'T BE WORKING ON COMMISSION. AND PART-TIME JUDGES ARE COMPENSATED AT AN HOURLY RATE, PER ORDINANCE. IN THE PAST, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS DONE TO RECRUIT APPLICANTS TO THESE POSITIONS, THERE'S NOTHING SET IN STONE.
THERE'S NOTHING IN ORDINANCE, THERE'S NOTHING IN STATE LAW. IT'S JUST DIFFERED WITH EVERY COMMITTEE. TYPICALLY, THERE'S A JOB ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE CITY WEBSITE. THERE'S COMMUNICATION THAT IS SENT TO VARIOUS BAR ASSOCIATIONS LOCALLY, AND THERE'S USUALLY -- IN THE PAST WE'VE ALSO POSTED SOMETHING IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER. BUT IT IS UP TO THIS COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE PROCESS TO APPOINT AND REAPPOINT ALL THE JUDGES OR NEW APPLICANTS. SO INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION ARE APPLICATION AUTHORIZATIONS, A SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE, BACKGROUND CHECK AND AUTHORIZATION FORMS. ALSO USUALLY ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A RESUMÉ WITH RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND CREDENTIALS. AND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS SET OUT BY ORDINANCE ARE THAT THEY MUST BE A RESIDENT OF THE STATE, CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, LICENSED ATTORNEY -- BECAUSE WE ARE A COURT OF RECORD SO EVERY MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE MUST BE A LICENSED ATTORNEY. TWO YEARS OF PRACTICE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND A RESIDENT OF THE CITY FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS PRECEDING THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT. THAT LAST ONE IS ALSO BY CHARTER.
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THE BACKGROUND CHECK IS COMPLETED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.THEY OBTAIN A CRIMINAL HISTORY FROM SAPD. THEY MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE JUDGES ARE IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE STATE BAR AND THAT THERE IS NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAINST A JUDGE DURING THEIR TERM OR ANY NEW APPLICANTS THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY DISCIPLINARY HISTORY WITH THE STATE BAR OR IF THEY ARE A JUDGE ON ANOTHER BENCH, THAT THERE IS NO JUDICIAL CONDUCT HISTORY WITH THE STATE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT. THEY MUST ALSO BE CURRENT ON ALL CITY TAXES AND HAVE NO CODE COMPLIANCE COMPLAINTS. ALSO, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CONFIRMS THEIR TEXAS RESIDENCY AND CONFIRMS THEIR LITIGATION HISTORY AND MINIMUM YEARS OF PRACTICE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE ROLE OF THIS COMMITTEE, AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS NOT A SET PROCESS TO INTERVIEW APPLICANTS, TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS.
ONCE THE VETTING PROCESS IS DONE BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE APPLICANTS ARE TURNED OVER TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANDTT YOU CAN DECIDE WHO YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO BASED ON THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE MET.
THE DELIBERATION AND INTERVIEWS ARE TYPICALLY DONE DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND THEN YOU ALL MEET TO DISCUSS THE SELECTION OF CANDIDATES.
THE COMMITTEE THEN MAKES THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY COUNCIL CAN DECIDE TO APPOINT OR REAPPOINT THE JUDGES FOR THE NEW JUDICIAL TERM.
THE JUDICIAL TERM, THIS NEXT JUDICIAL TERM, BEGINS MAY 1, 2024.
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS ANY
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROCESS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'LL CALL THE QUEUE IN A LITTLE BIT.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THE COMMITTEE'S THOUGHTS ON THE PROCESS AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE. THERE ARE A FEW QUESTIONS I HAVE.
ONE IS THE 16 HOURS OF JUDICIAL EDUCATION THAT'S REQUIRED ANNUALLY, THAT'S STATE LAW,
CORRECT? >> THAT'S A MINIMUM, YES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I'D LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAINING THAT THEY'RE DOING.
IS IT A STANDARD 16 HOURS OR ARE THERE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND COURSES THAT THEY CAN TAKE?
>> OBLEDO: USUALLY THERE'S A COURSE CURRICULUM THAT IS ESTABLISHED BY THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS EDUCATION CENTER. RECENTLY, WITH THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY BEGAN HAVING A LOT OF COURSES BASED ON NEW LAWS THAT WERE PASSED AND NEW PROCESSES THAT WERE PASSED. DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S GIVEN REGARDING NEW LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN PASSED. ALSO, JUST DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE TRENDING.
VARIOUS THINGS THAT ARE TRENDING IN NOT ONLY IN TEXAS AND IN THE UNITED STATES, ALSO AT THE END OF EVERY JUDICIAL CONFERENCE WE ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT WE FEEL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AT THE NEXT CONFERENCE. IN ADDITION TO THOSE 16 HOURS OF JUDICIAL EDUCATION, THAT'S JUST PRETTY MUCH JUST LIKE A BASIC CONFERENCE WHERE YOU CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH TOPICS YOU WANT TO SIT IN ON. THERE'S ALSO, AT TIMES, LIKE A MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE THAT SOME OF THE JUDGES GO TO. IN APRIL WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A TRAFFIC SAFETY CONFERENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT A LOT OF THE JUDGES WILL PROBABLY BE ATTENDING. OCCASIONALLY THERE'S AN IMPAIRED DRIVING SYMPOSIUM THAT THE JUDGES CAN ATTEND. SO THERE'S ADDITIONAL CONFERENCES THAT THE JUDGES CAN
ATTEND AS WELL. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. ONE THING I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN -- I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT SIGHTSEEING A LITTLE BIT AND GOING AND OBSERVING THE JUDGES.
WOULD YOU MIND COMPILING A SCHEDULE FOR EACH OF THE JUDGE'S SCHEDULES AND SEE IF
THAT COULD BE SENT TO US IN SOME WAY? >> OBLEDO: ABSOLUTELY.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL. LASTLY, REGARDING RECRUITMENT, LAST MEETING I MENTIONED MARKETING TO CREATE A ROBUST FIELD OF CANDIDATES.
LAST TIME WE DID THIS THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT OF INTERVIEWS WE HAD TO SPLIT IT ACROSS TWO OR THREE DAYS AND SO IT WAS A LOT. BUT I THINK WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM T THAT . WHAT I WONDER IS REGARDING MARKETING AND WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MEETING, HOW CAN WE PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR THOSE EFFORTS?
WOULD THAT BE AN ANDY QUESTION? >> SEGOVIA: COUNCILMAN, CERTAINLY. THE ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO -- AND WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE JUDGE, TO PROVIDE THAT PROCESS. AS THE JUDGE NOTED THERE'S
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NOTHING IN THE CODE OR ANY OUTLINE AS TO HOW TO DO IT, WHICH PROVIDES THIS COMMITTEE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY. SO I WOULD THEN WORK WITH JUDGE OBLEDO IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN INCREASE THE MARKETING IN TERMS OF WHAT SHE NOTED, REACHING OUT TO BAR ASSOCIATIONS SO WE GET THE MOST EXPANDED NOTIFICATION WE CAN TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THE JOB.SO WE'LL COME UP WITH A PLAN AND THEN EITHER PROPOSE IT TO YOU OR THE COMMITTEE, DEPENDING ON THE SCHEDULE. RECOGNIZING THAT THIS COMMITTEE ONLY MEETS ONCE A MONTH.
BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN CIRCULATE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SOUNDS GOOD. I GUESS A FEW THINGS I'M THINKING ABOUT IN THIS PROCESS IS RECRUITMENT, EVALUATION -- WHICH REMIND ME AGAIN. DID YOU SAY THAT YOU DO
EVALUATION OF JUDGES? >> OBLEDO: A QUARTERLY REPORT.
I SEND IT TO YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: RECRUITMENT, EVALUATION, OF COURSE INTERVIEW, AND THEN SELECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS' THOUGHTS ON THAT PROCESS AND WHAT THEY THINK COULD BE ADDED OR SUBTRACTED, JUST GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE PROCESS. I SAW COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT YOU WERE JUST MENTIONING, THE EVALUATION. DO YOU SEND THOSE TO US?
>> OBLEDO: I SUBMIT IT TO THE COMMITTEE. YES.
ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. >> GAVITO: OKAY. I WILL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT. A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS. ARE THERE TERM LIMITS FOR
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES? >> OBLEDO: NO. THERE'S NO TERM LIMITS.
>> GAVITO: SO THE MINIMUM IS TWO YEARS PRACTICING STATE LAW, WHICH SEEMS LOW.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE TENURE FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES ON THEIR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE?
>> OBLEDO: GOSH, THE FULL-TIME JUDGES, I WOULD SAY THAT NOW ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN PRACTICING OVER TEN YEARS, DEFINITELY. YES.
>> GAVITO: I WAS CURIOUS ON THE BACKGROUND CHECK. DOES IT LOOK INTO OUT OF STATE
LICENSE AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION? >> OBLEDO: NO.
>> GAVITO: SO IT'S ONLY TEXAS? >> OBLEDO: TEXAS, YES.
>> GAVITO: IS THERE A REASON WHY? I JUST WANT US TO BE SAFE.
>> OBLEDO: ANDY, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT? >> SEGOVIA: COUNCILWOMAN, YOU'LL PROBABLY GET THE ANSWER THAT MY TEAM WILL TELL YOU. WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY.
TO YOUR QUESTION, WE CAN CERTAINLY EXPAND IT AND MY RECOMMENDATION IS WE DO DO THAT
FOR OUT OF STATE. >> GAVITO: YEAH, I JUST DON'T WANT US TO ALL BE SURPRISED IF SOMEONE WAS DOING SOMETHING IN FLORIDA AND THEN THEY CAME TO TEXAS AND WE'RE JUST LETTING THEM DO THAT. HOW IS THE SUCCESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MUNICIPAL
COURT JUDGES MEASURED? >> OBLEDO: WELL, IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE EACH JUDGE HANDLES A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DOCKET. SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE THEIR SUCCESS AND EFFECTIVENESS. WHAT I DO, THOUGH, IS ANY JUDGE THAT HAS A SPECIALTY DOCKET, WE JUST KEEP TRACK OF MAKING SURE THAT -- AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WE TRY TO CHECK THEIR CLEARANCE RATE ON THE SPECIALTY DOCKETS. IT'S EASIER TO DO THAT ON THE SPECIALTY DOCKETS RATHER THAN THE CASES THAT COME THROUGH THE APPEARANCE COURT.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT. WE MEET PRETTY REGULARLY JUST
TO MAKE SURE THAT CASES ARE BEING SEEN TIMELY. >> GAVITO: OKAY.
YEAH, I THINK I HAVE HEARD YOU SAY THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO TRACK BECAUSE OF THE SPECIALIZATION OF EACH. BUT ARE THERE TRENDS WE CAN SEE AMONGST EACH OF THE SPECIALIZED EASIER THAT WE CAN SEE AND CHECK ABOUT THEIR EFFECTIVENESS?
>> OBLEDO: WELL, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT ANYBODY THAT COMES BEFORE THE COURT HAS ACCESS TO JUSTICE TIMELY. YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT JUST FOR THE DEFENDANT THAT APPEARS BEFORE US BUT THAT'S ALSO ANY VICTIM THAT MIGHT BE ON THE CASE. YOU KNOW, AND IT ALSO JUST GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT THOSE, REALLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS SOME OF THE ANIMAL CASES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES. WE'RE REALLY TRYING, ON OUR JUVENILE DOCKET, TO SEE THOSE CASES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO JUSTICE
TIMELY. >> GAVITO: OKAY. SO WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS KIND OF THE BIGGEST KPI Y'ALL TRACK IS TIMELINESS, GETTING THEM IN QUICKLY.
>> OBLEDO: EXACTLY. >> GAVITO: BUT NOT NECESSARILY ON THE BACK END ON
HOW MANY THEY'RE CHARGING OR NOT. >> OBLEDO: I'M SORRY?
>> GAVITO: NOT NECESSARILY ON THE BACK END AND HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'RE CONVICTING OR
NOT? >> OBLEDO: WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THAT BUT IT DOESN'T -- WELL,
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AND WE DO KEEP TRACK OF THAT. WE KEEP TRACK OF IT AS A WHOLE ON THE COURT.BUT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE COULD KEEP TRACK OF THAT OR NOT. I JUST DON'T KNOW.
>> GAVITO: YEAH, I UNDERSTAND IT IS DIFFICULT TO MEASURE THIS.
IT'S NOT AN ALL OR NOTHING THING. BUT FOR ME WERE TWO ISSUES THAT WE BROUGHT UP AGAIN AND AGAIN ARE SPEEDING, YOU KNOW, AND IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP.
AND SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE JUDGES ARE SUCCESSFUL IN, ONE, IF PEOPLE ARE GETTING A SPEEDING TICKET, THEY'RE NOT WIGGLING OUT OF IT.
THEY'RE PAYING THE FULL THING. NONE OF US SPEEDS THROUGH ALAMO HEIGHTS OR CASTLE HILLS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET A $500 TICKET AND WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY.
AND I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GET AWAY FROM THAT CULTURE A LITTLE BIT IN SAN ANTONIO AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS UP FOR A LARGER DEBATE. BUT WHEN WE GET AWAY WITH THAT THEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KEEP SPEEDING AND WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HEAR THESE RESIDENTS' CONCERNS. ALSO, TOO, WE GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON IRRESPONSIBLE DOG
OWNERSHIP -- >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: COUNCILWOMAN, WE'RE GETTING A
LITTLE BIT OFF OF THE TOPIC OF THE PROCESS. >> SEGOVIA: IN TERMS OF BOTH EVALUATION AND SELECTION, ONE OF THE CRITERIA CANNOT BE HOW THEY WILL SPECIFICALLY RULE ON ANY CASE OR GROUPS OF CASES. SO WE CAN'T SELECT -- OR THE COMMITTEE CAN'T RECOMMEND BASED ON, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW STRICT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON ENFORCEMENT ON EITHER ANIMAL OR TRAFFIC. SO YOU CAN'T REALLY GET INTO HOW THEY'LL DECIDE.
THEY'LL DECIDE BASED ON THE LAW AND THE FACTS, AT THE END OF THE DAY.
>> GAVITO: NO, THAT'S FAIR. I JUST AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE MAKE THE SELECTION FOR GOOD JUDGES, YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF THAT'S PART OF THE CRITERIA.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR SURE.
YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK OF SOME EXCELLENT QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING THE INTERVIEW. NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, OF COURSE FOR THE PRESENTATION, JUDGE.
A GOOD CATCH ON THE OUT OF STATE, COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO.
I'M WONDERING IS THERE A LIST OR DO WE HAVE A STANDARD? >> OBLEDO: I'M NOT AWARE.
>> SEGOVIA: THERE'S NOT A SET OF CRITERIA THAT WOULD PROHIBIT, COUNCILWOMAN , IT'S MORE INFORMATIONAL FOR THE COMMITTEE. THEY COULD USE THAT INFORMATION
TO BASE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON. >> HAVRDA: AND I'LL SAY IN PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS THERE HAVE BEEN JUDGES THAT HAVE SOMETHING ON THEIR RECORD.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE STATEMENT. THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T BE A JUDGE. SOMETIMES I THINK IT BENEFITS BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE, DEPENDING ON, OF COURSE, WHAT IT WAS. BUT BEING A COURT ON THE BENCH AND HAVING GONE THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT GIVES YOU AN EXTRA PERSPECTIVE THAT I THINK IS USEFUL. BUT I WONDER IF WE SHOULDN'T EXCLUDE CRIMES OF MORAL TURPITUDE. SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. MY BIG QUESTION -- LAST TIME I THINK AT THIS COMMITTEE WAS THE THREE YEARS, THE REQUIREMENT TO BE A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE YOU
NEED TO BE LIVING IN THE CITY FOR THREE YEARS, CORRECT? >> YES.
>> HAVRDA: AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS EXCESSIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, TO BE A CITY COUNCILMEMBER YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT FOR SIX MONTHS.
BUT I HAVE LEARNED SINCE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS LET ME KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST CITY CHARTER, IT'S ALSO STATE LAW. MY QUESTION IS, SINCE WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT, AT LEAST QUICKLY AT THE STATE, WOULD IT BEHOOVE US, SINCE WE'RE UNDER THE CITY CHARTER REVIEW NOW, TO MAYBE CHANGE THE LANGUAGE TO INSTEAD OF IN OUR CHARTER IT SAYS IT CONFORMS TO THE STATE LAW -- I'M SORRY. THREE YEARS. MAYBE JUST CHANGING THE LANGUAGE TO SAY TO CONFORM TO STATE LAW. NOT TO HAVE THAT SET AMOUNT.
IF THEY END OF CHANGING THE STATE LAW, WE'RE STILL STUCK AT THREE YEARS.
SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE A THOUGHT? >> SEGOVIA: UNDER THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, YOU'RE RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN. THEY'RE CURRENTLY DOING THEIR WORK. ONE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES IS A LANGUAGE CLARIFICATION SUBCOMMITTEE THAT LOOKS AT ISSUES JUST LIKE THAT. THAT WAS PROBABLY THE INTENT WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN TO MATCH STATE LAW OR TO BE CONSISTENT WITH IT.
AND WE CAN, AS A CLARIFICATION, PROPOSE THAT TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND SAY THAT'S SOMETHING THEY SHOULD CONSIDER AS WELL. OTHERWISE THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE SCOPE OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE WHERE, AGAIN, I THINK IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE CAN PUT TO THAT SUBCOMMITTEE THAT'S ALREADY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE MORE GENERAL THINGS IN TERMS OF JUST
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CLEANING UP THE CHARTER TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS THERE IS THERE FOR WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO BE. AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. IT WAS INTENDED TO MATCH WITHSTATE LAW. >> HAVRDA: SO THAT WOULD CONFORM UNDER THE CURRENT CHARGE FROM THE MAYOR. WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO AN EXTRA --
>> SEGOVIA: I WOULDN'T THINK SO BUT I WILL CONFIRM THAT. IT COULD FALL INTO THIS SUBCOMMITTEE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, LOOKING FOR LANGUAGE CLARIFICATION AND
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. I THINK IT CAN GO UNDER THAT. >> HAVRDA: HOW DO WE BRING IT
TO THEIR ATTENTION? >> SEGOVIA: ONE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE BRINGING IT UP THIS EVENING. WE CAN BRING IT UP THIS
EVENING. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M CURIOUS, WITH THE PART-TIME JUDGES, ROUGHLY HOW MANY HOURS ARE THEY PRACTICING? AND THEN I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT SALARY AS WELL.
WE JUST WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THE HOUSING TRUST AND WE DID AN ANALYSIS OF WHERE DIFFERENT HOUSING TRUST PRESIDENTS FELL WITHIN THE SAME ROLE, TO COMPARE HOW TO INCREASE SALARY AND BENEFITS. WITH THE LAST APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES, DID THE COMMITTEE CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS TO SEE IF WE'RE KEEPING WAGES UP TO THE STANDARD IN THE STATE OF
TEXAS? >> OBLEDO: I'M NOT VERY SURE.
I KNOW THAT WHEN -- I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WAS A BUMP ACROSS THE BOARD THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE CITY, THE PART-TIME JUDGES AND THE FULL-TIME JUDGES DID SEE A BUMP IN THEIR SALARY. I DON'T KNOW IF A STUDY WAS DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
ON PAR WITH OTHER JUDGES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF WE APPOINTING JUDGES, IS TO ENSURE WE'RE BEING COMPETITIVE AND THAT WE'RE RETAINING OUR TALENT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO EXPLORE. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO PROPOSED, LOOKING AT FOLKS' RECORDS FROM DIFFERENT STATES.
JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER WHEN WE'RE MAKING THE DECISION ON WHO TO APPOINT.
IN TERMS OF THE PART-TIME JUDGES, ROUGHLY HOW MANY HOURS ARE THEY WORKING?
>> OBLEDO: GOSH. IT JUST DEPENDS. IT DEPENDS, COUNCILWOMAN.
SOME OF THEM DO WORK MORE THAN OTHERS. I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF SHIFTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON THEIR OWN WORK SCHEDULE. EACH ONE OF THEM DOES HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB.
SOME OF THEM ARE PRACTICING CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS. OTHERS WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION. ONE OF THEM WORKS FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
SO IT JUST DEPENDS. IT CAN GO FROM, LIKE, YOU KNOW POSSIBLY 40 HOURS A MONTH TO SOMETIMES JUST 16 HOURS A MONTH. IT JUST DEPENDS.
THEY ARE PAID HOURLY SO THEY'RE ONLY PAID IF THEY WORK. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND IN TERMS OF RECRUITMENT, HAVE YOU ALL FOUND ONE METHOD TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN OTHERS? Y'ALL SEEM TO HIT DIFFERENT AVENUES TO RECRUIT BUT WHEN FOLKS CHECK THE BOX ABOUT HOW THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE POSITION, IS THERE A COMMON METHOD THAT FOLKS REPORT THAT THEY HEARD ABOUT THE OPENING?
>> OBLEDO: I'M NOT AWARE. LOOKING AT THE APPLICATION, I DON'T RECALL SEEING WHERE AN APPLICANT CAN CHECK WHERE THEY HEARD ABOUT THE POSITION. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AT THE COURT FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND, JUST AS ANDY SAID, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE.
I DON'T KNOW -- YOU KNOW, AND ESPECIALLY SINCE I'VE ONLY TAKEN OVER AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE SINCE 2020, I THINK EVEN THE LAST APPOINTMENTS WE WERE STILL IN COVID.
SO THERE WASN'T REALLY, I DON'T THINK A BIG SEARCH OR A BIG RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
IN THE PAST THE COMMITTEE JUST PRETTY MUCH STUCK TO WHAT HAD ALWAYS BEEN DONE.
>> SEGOVIA: I TELL YOU WHAT WE CAN DO, COUNCILWOMAN, WE CAN LEVERAGE WHAT MY OFFICE DOES IN TERMS OF RECRUITMENT FOR CITY ATTORNEY POSITIONS, IN TERMS OF LEGAL ASSOCIATIONS THAT WE REACH OUT TO. LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION, SAN ANTONIO BAR , AND AT LEAST USE THOSE RESOURCES SO THAT THE JUDGE CAN USE THOSE IN TERMS OF WHAT NETWORKS WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO. AT A MINIMUM IT WILL MATCH WHAT
WE LOOK TO FOR OUR ATTORNEYS. >> CASTILLO: GREAT. THANK YOU, ANDY.
THANK YOU, JUDGE. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU'RE GOOD? SOUNDS GOOD. WELL, I DO REMEMBER AT THE LAST MEETING YOU HAD GIVEN US A PAPER COPY OF THE APPLICATION, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
I'M WONDERING IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE HAVE GOTTEN TO REVIEW?
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>> OBLEDO: I HAVE IT WITH ME AGAIN. I CAN HAND IT OUT TO EVERYBODY
WITH MY SUGGESTED CHANGES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SOUNDS GOOD.
I THINK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO BRINGS UP A GREAT POINT, MODERNIZING IT A BIT ASKING HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE POSITION, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO TRY OUT NEW METHODS OF
OUTREACH. IT'S WORTH TESTING. >> OBLEDO: OKAY.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SEGOVIA: CHAIR, IF IT'S OKAY, GIVEN THE WHAT I'M HEARING THE CONSENSUS THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF MARKETING AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN NOTIFY -- START NOTIFYING THESE ASSOCIATIONS THAT THE PROCESS IS GOING TO START PRETTY SOON. AND THEN PRETTY QUICKLY WE CAN WORK WITH JUDGE OBLEDO TO COME UP WITH A PROPOSED TIMELINE. BUT I THINK THE SOONER WE GET THE WORD OUT, THE BETTER WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A BROADER RANGE OF CANDIDATES, IF WE START LETTING THEM KNOW THEY SHOULD BE EARS OPEN FOR SOMETHING COMING UP PRETTY SOON.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR SURE. JU YOU RIGHT NOW HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHEN YOU WOULD EXPECT OR WHEN YOU WOULD ADVISE WE BEGIN CONDUCTING
INTERVIEWS? >> OBLEDO: I WOULD SUBJECT SOMETIME IN MARCH.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO GET THE REAPPOINTMENTS DONE BY MAY 1ST, I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY BY MARCH. OKAY. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF -- RIGHT NOW, AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE TEN FULL-TIME JUDGES AND THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER FOR THE FULL-TIME JUDGES. WE CAN HANDLE ALL THE DOCKETS WITH THE TEN FULL-TIME JUDGES.
THERE ARE NINE PART-TIME JUDGES. AND I THINK WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO MORE. DO YOU REMEMBER? VACANCIES? WE HAVE TWO PART-TIME VACANCIES. I WOULD SUGGEST FILLING THOSE PART-TIME VACANCIES. AGAIN, THE PART-TIME JUDGES DO NOT GET PAID UNLESS THEY WORK.
SO THAT COULD BUMP IT UP TO 11 POSITIONS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR SURE. SO WITH MARCH INTERVIEWS, I IMAGINE WE PROBABLY WANT TO START TOMORROW WITH ADVERTISING AND WHATNOT. SOUNDS GOOD.
WE'LL DO THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. OTHER THAN THAT, NEXT ITEM, I GENERALLY LIKE TO ASK COMMITTEE MEMBERS YOUR THOUGHTS ON AGENDA ITEMS AND I KNOW WE STILL HAVE THE ISSUE OF SPEEDING TO DISCUSS AND THE ISSUE OF ACS CASES.
THERE WAS ONE MORE FROM PELAEZ. I HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN SOMEWHERE. IT'S ON THE LIST. ARE THERE ANY OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST? SOUNDS GOOD. WE'RE GOING TO BE FULL-SPEED AHEAD ON INTERVIEWS VERY SOON. THANK YOU AGAIN, JUDGE, FOR BEING HERE.
WE'LL HAVE I THINK A LARGER SET OF ITEMS NEXT MONTH. THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA SO WE'LL CONSIDER OUR MEETING ADJOURNED AT 1:30. THANK YOU, ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.