Consider appointing Judge Julie K. Escalante, Judge Richard J. Cope, Jr., and Judge Richard P. Flake as Associate Municipal Court Judges.

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

Section 4.02(c) of the City's Charter state, in part, as follows:<br><br><div style="margin-left: 20px;">"The Council may appoint such Associate or Alternate Judges of said [municipal] court as shall be deemed necessary and appropriate by said Council.  Associate of Alternate Judges shall be appointed for terms and shall possess the same qualifications as are required of the regular Judge of said court."</div><br>With the retirement of Judge Woltz and Judge Robert Barfield serving as the Acting Municipal Court Judge, it would be prudent to appoint additional Associate Judges to ensure that the court and jail continue to operate efficiently and effectively.  Judge Julie Escalate, Judge Flake, and Judge Cope have agreed to serve as Associate Municipal Court Judges. The Associate Judges will serve when Judge Barfield is unable to do so.<br><br>As such, this item appoints Judge Escalante, Judge Flake, and Judge Cope as Associate Municipal Court Judges for the City of Friendswood, for a two-year term, which term began on July 1, 2026.  These appointments are subject to the Judges' execution of an agreement for judicial services with the City.<br><br><br>