Municipal Court Judge

Job Summary

The City of San Antonio Municipal Court is now accepting applications for full-time Municipal Court Judge. Municipal Court Judges perform judicial duties as a municipal judge for the municipal courts of San Antonio. The judge acts in the interpretation, application, and enforcement of local ordinances and applicable State laws. The judge shall perform these duties by presiding over the municipal court sessions (including pre‑trials, trials, hearings, and other judicial proceedings) and functioning as a magistrate in accordance with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art.

15.17, to include issuing administrative search warrants. Various hours are required based on court schedule and may include nonstandard work hours including evenings, overnight hours, weekends, and holidays when performing magistrate duties. Appointments will be for a two‑year term beginning May 1, 2026. Compensation for this position is set by City Council.

• Presiding over jury trials, non‑jury trials, and plea hearings.
• Administering oaths and affirmations, including oaths to jurors and to persons filing complaints with the court.
• Granting continuances in cases where sufficient cause is shown that a case should be postponed.
• Ruling on motions for new trials.
• Entering the proceedings of each trial in the judge's docket.
• Assessing punishment for contempt of court charges.
• Conducting driver's license suspension hearings under the Safety Responsibility Act.
• Performing magistrate duties pursuant to Art. 15.17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Setting bail in misdemeanor and felony cases.
• Issuing summons, administrative search warrants, and arrest warrants in cases filed in Municipal Court.
• Issuing Fugitive Warrants and Mental Health Warnings.
• Granting Orders of Emergency Protection, Blood Draw Warrants, Juvenile Admonishments, and Orders for Emergency Detention.
• Reviewing probable cause affidavits and search warrants for all ranges of criminal offenses.

• United States citizenship.
• Licensed attorney in good standing.
• Two or more years of experience practicing law in Texas.
• Three or more years of residency in the City of San Antonio immediately preceding appointment date.
• Applicants must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint‑based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Disqualification applies for felony convictions, felony deferred adjudication, Class A & B misdemeanor deferred adjudication, Class B misdemeanor convictions, an open arrest for any criminal offense, and family violence convictions.

• Completed and Notarized Application Authorizations document (2 pages)
• Completed Municipal Court Judge Application Supplemental Questionnaire (5 pages)
• Completed and signed Municipal Court Judge Background Check Authorization Form (1 page)
• Resume outlining current and relevant experience and credentials

The City of San Antonio (CoSA) strives to provide a competitive compensation and benefit package to attract and retain a highly skilled workforce. CoSA offers subsidized health care benefits for active and retired employees, paid disability benefits, paid life insurance, as well as automatic participation in a pension program which is currently matched two to one. For more detailed information, please view Benefits offered by the City of San Antonio: http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..asp

• Part‑Time, Temporary, and non‑City positions are not eligible for CoSA Benefits.
• Holiday and Leave benefits for Pre‑K 4 SA positions may be different than what is listed at the above link.

The City Of San Antonio is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. This means that the City does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, genetic information, or sexual orientation. All individuals are encouraged to apply and compete for jobs with the City of San Antonio. If you require assistance at any stage of the application process due to a disability, please contact the Human Resources Department so that accommodations may be made to meet your needs.

Our telephone number is 210‑207‑8705 and our fax number is 210‑207‑2285.