| 1 | 1 | | By: West S.C.R. No. 21 |
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| 2 | 2 | | (In the Senate - Filed March 4, 2013; March 12, 2013, read |
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| 3 | 3 | | first time and referred to Committee on Administration; |
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| 4 | 4 | | March 25, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, |
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| 5 | 5 | | Nays 0; March 25, 2013, sent to printer.) |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | |
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| 8 | 8 | | SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Municipal courts provide citizens of the Lone Star |
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| 10 | 10 | | State with a local forum where questions of law and fact can be |
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| 11 | 11 | | resolved in regard to alleged violations of state law and municipal |
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| 12 | 12 | | ordinances; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Because citizens come into contact with municipal |
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| 14 | 14 | | courts more than any other courts, the public impression of the |
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| 15 | 15 | | Texas judicial system is largely dependent on their experience |
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| 16 | 16 | | there; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Judges of the municipal courts function also as |
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| 18 | 18 | | magistrates for the State of Texas, and in that role they perform |
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| 19 | 19 | | such duties as issuing search and arrest warrants, giving |
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| 20 | 20 | | magistrate warnings, and setting bail for offenses ranging from |
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| 21 | 21 | | petty theft to murder; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Pledging to be impartial and to conform to the |
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| 23 | 23 | | standards set by the Canons of Judicial Conduct, the estimated |
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| 24 | 24 | | 6,000 employees of municipal courts work diligently to ensure the |
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| 25 | 25 | | fair administration of justice while upholding the rigorous |
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| 26 | 26 | | standards of professionalism; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Municipal judges, clerks, court administrators, |
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| 28 | 28 | | bailiffs, and warrant officers continually strive to improve the |
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| 29 | 29 | | administration of justice through participation in judicial |
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| 30 | 30 | | education programs, seminars, workshops, and the annual meetings of |
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| 31 | 31 | | their state and local professional organizations; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Municipal courts in Texas play a vital role in |
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| 33 | 33 | | preserving public safety, protecting the quality of life for area |
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| 34 | 34 | | residents, and deterring future criminal behavior, and it is indeed |
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| 35 | 35 | | fitting to recognize municipal judges and support personnel for |
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| 36 | 36 | | their exemplary dedication to the communities they serve; now, |
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| 37 | 37 | | therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize |
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| 39 | 39 | | November 4-8, 2013, and November 3-7, 2014, as Municipal Courts |
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| 40 | 40 | | Week and take special note of the important work performed by all |
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| 41 | 41 | | those associated with the state's municipal courts. |
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| 42 | 42 | | * * * * * |
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