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          R E S O L U T I O N
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               WHEREAS, Municipal courts provide citizens of the Lone Star  | 
      
      
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        State with a local forum where questions of law and fact can be  | 
      
      
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        resolved in regard to alleged violations of state law and municipal  | 
      
      
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        ordinances; and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, Because citizens come into contact with municipal  | 
      
      
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        courts more than any other courts, the public impression of the  | 
      
      
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        Texas judicial system is largely dependent on their experience  | 
      
      
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        there; and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, Judges of the municipal courts function also as  | 
      
      
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        magistrates for the State of Texas, and in that role they perform  | 
      
      
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        such duties as issuing search and arrest warrants, giving  | 
      
      
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        magistrate warnings, and setting bail for offenses ranging from  | 
      
      
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        petty theft to murder; and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, Pledging to be impartial and to conform to the  | 
      
      
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        standards set by the Canons of Judicial Conduct, the estimated  | 
      
      
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        6,000 employees of municipal courts work diligently to ensure the  | 
      
      
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        fair administration of justice while upholding the rigorous  | 
      
      
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        standards of professionalism; and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, Municipal judges, clerks, court administrators,  | 
      
      
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        prosecutors, juvenile case managers, bailiffs, and warrant  | 
      
      
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        officers continually strive to improve the administration of  | 
      
      
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        justice through participation in judicial education programs,  | 
      
      
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        seminars, workshops, and the annual meetings of their state and  | 
      
      
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        local professional organizations; and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, Municipal courts in Texas play a vital role in  | 
      
      
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        preserving public safety, protecting the quality of life for area  | 
      
      
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        residents, and deterring future criminal behavior, and it is indeed  | 
      
      
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        fitting to recognize municipal judges and court support personnel  | 
      
      
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        for their exemplary dedication to the communities they serve; now,  | 
      
      
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        therefore, be it | 
      
      
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               RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas  | 
      
      
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        Legislature hereby recognize November 7-11, 2016, as Municipal  | 
      
      
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        Courts Week and take special note of the important work performed by  | 
      
      
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        all those associated with the state's municipal courts. | 
      
      
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        Smithee | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Speaker of the House      | 
      
      
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               I certify that H.R. No. 1143 was adopted by the House on April  | 
      
      
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        16, 2015, by a non-record vote. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Chief Clerk of the House    | 
      
      
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