HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 18928oRDZNANCE N0,
AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING MUNICIPAL, COURT; ANIEND-
Tr~G SECTIONS 2.411 AND 2.776 OF THE EUGENE CODE,
1971; ADDING A NEW SECTION 2.773 THERETO; AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
THE CITY OF EUGENE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 2.Q11 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is hereby
amended by repealing subsection ~d} of subsection ~ 8 ~ , renumbering
and amending subsection ~c} thereof, and adding a new subsection
~l0} thereto, to provide:
2.11 City Council - Executive Sessions.
{9} In appointing a municipal judge, the council shall
request a preferential ballot to be taken by the Lane County
Bar Association of all applicants for the position, the results
of which shall be made public. From among the three applicants
receiving the highest votes the council shall choose the can-
didates for interview and selection as provided in subsection
~ 8 } of this section.
~10~ Prior to the expiration of the municipal judge's
term in office, or from time to time as the council may direct,
the mayor and president and vice-president of the council shall
evaluate the performance of the municipal judge and recommend
to the council whether he or she should be appointed to another
term or if a new municipal judge should be selected, This evalu-
ation shall be based on the fallowing criteria: the quality
of reasoning in decisions, conscientiousness, legal knowledge
and ability, neutrality and fairness, common sense and sound
judgment, ability to make decisions, administrative ability
including supervision of assistant municipal judges, coordi-
nation with the court administrator, and establishment of judi-
cial policies}, recognition of legislative priorities and
intent, and other criteria designated by the council.
~a} Prior to conducting an evaluation the Mayor,
president, and vice-president of the council shall
direct the city manager ta:
1, Conduct a performance poll of Lane
County Bar Association members who have appeared
before the municipal court in the preceding year
using the evaluation criteria established in this
subsection.
2. Obtain comments regarding the function-
ing of the court and the performance of the judges
from city departments affected by municipal court
Ordinance - 1
IB928
operations. These comments shall be reported in
a manner that protects the anonymity of the com-
~nentor.
3. Solicit public comment from the general
public and organizations interested in the crimi-
nal justice system.
4. Using a random sample of jurors that
served in municipal court during the preceding 12
months, solicit jurors evaluation, on the basis
of the criteria established in this subsection, of
the judges whose performance they observed.
5. Gather objective statistics on the per-
formance of the municipal court such as, but not
limited to: caseload, case-to-trial delays, case
disposition rate, number of police officers schedul-~
ed on days off.
~. Prepare a salary survey using local mar-
l~et data and other appropriate indicators.
fib} ~Tith the information supplied by the city
manager, the mayor, and the council president and vice-
president shall discuss the performance of the munici-
pal judge with him or her in an executive session as
provided in subsection ~_2} ~c} of this section and there-
after recommend to the council the re-appointment of
the municipal judge for another term, with ar without
conditions, or the selection of a new municipal judge
as provided in subsection ~_9} of this section. The
recommendation shah also include the proposed compen-
sation for the position and may provide fvr future
adjustments to the compensation during the term of
appointment based on compensation adjustments made
for other exempt employes or in professional service
contracts.
Section 2. There is hereby added to the Eugene Code, 1971, a
new section to be numbered and provide:
2.773 Munici al Court - Munici al Judge: Term of Office.
~1} Except as provided in this section the municipal
judge shall be appointed for a term of four years commencing
July 1, 1985 and every four years thereafter or until a quali-
fied successor is appointed.
~2} Should the position of municipal judge become vacant
for whatever cause, the council shah, appoint an acting municipal
judge from among the assistant municipal judges then serving in
municipal court to serve until such time as a qualified successor
is selected to complete the unexpired portion of the term of
appointment. The successor to be selected as provided in sub-
section ~9} of section 2.011 of this chapter.
~.3} Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection ~l}
of this section, the position of municipal judge is vacant when
Ordinance - 2
18928
the person filling the position:
~a~ resigns, dies or is incapacitated;
fib} ceases to be an active member in good stand-
ing of the Oregon State Bar;
~~c~ ceases to be a resident of the city; or
~d~ is removed by action of the council, with
or without cause, upon 10 days written notice.
Section 3. Section 2.??6 of the Eugene Code, 19?l, is hereby
amended to provide:
2.7?6 Munici a1 Court - Assistant Judges: Appointment and
Compensation.
~1} The municipal judge is hereby authori2ed to appoint
assistant municipal judges, from active members of the Oregon
State Bar Association, approved by that Association and in good
standing, as he or she shall determine necessary from time to
time to hold office and conduct sessions of the municipal court.
~.~2 ~ Upon recommendation of the municipal judge , the
city manager shall determine the compensation to be paid any
assistant judge so appointed. The total amount paid to all
assistant judges shall nat. exceed existing budget allocations
identified for that purpose unless otherwise approved by the
city council.
Section 4. That the provisions contained herein concern the
public welfare and safety and therefore, an emergency is hereby de-
Glared to exist, and this Ordinance shall become effective immediate-
ly upon its passage by the City Council and approval by the Mayor.
Passed by the City Council this
day o f ~g~~,~~, 19 8 2
City Record
Approved by the Mayor this
_~~day of 1982
May r
.,
Orda~an.c.e - 3.