There is hereby established a municipal court for the City of St. Francis, Kansas. The municipal court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine cases involving violations of the ordinances of the city.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

The Kansas code of procedure for municipal courts, as set forth in K.S.A. 12-4101 et seq. and all acts amendatory or supplemental thereto, except K.S.A. 12-4112, shall govern the practice and procedure in all cases in the municipal court.

(C.O. No. 1, Sec 1; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

Municipal court shall be held in the Cheyenne County District courtroom in or in such place as designated on such days and at such hours as the municipal judge designates.

(Code 1978, 10-108; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

The municipal court shall be presided over by a municipal judge. The mayor, subject to the approval of the city council, shall appoint the judge of the municipal court, and establish his or her compensation.

(Code 1978, 10-102; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

In the event the municipal judge is temporarily unable to preside due to absence, illness or disqualification, the municipal judge shall designate an attorney or other qualified person to act as judge pro tempore. In the event the municipal judge fails to appoint a judge pro tempore, the judge pro tempore shall be appointed in the same manner as the municipal judge is selected. The judge pro tempore shall receive compensation as shall be determined by the city council, payable in the same manner as the compensation of the regular municipal judge.

In the event a vacancy shall occur in the office of the municipal judge, a successor shall be appointed to fill the unexpired term in the same manner as the municipal judge was appointed.

The municipal judge shall have such powers and duties as set forth in the Kansas code of procedure for municipal courts (K.S.A. 12- 4101 et seq.) and all acts amendatory or supplemental thereto.

(Code 1978, 10-103; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

There is hereby established the office of the clerk of the municipal court of the City of St. Francis, Kansas, which office shall be filled by appointment by the municipal judge of the municipal court. The duties of the office shall be those prescribed by the Code for Municipal Courts set forth in Chapter 12, Article 41 of the Kansas Statutes, and shall include the following duties.

(a)   The clerk shall issue all process of the court, administer oaths, file and preserve all papers, docket cases and set same for trial and shall perform such further acts as may be necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the court. The clerk shall receive, account for and pay to the city treasurer monthly all fines and forfeited bonds paid into the court. The clerk shall make reports to the judicial administrator and furnish the information when requested by him, her or a departmental justice on such forms furnished by the judicial administrator, and approved by the Supreme Court.

(b)   The clerk of the municipal court shall within 10 days after selection and before entering upon the duties of office, execute to the city such bond as the governing body may require, which shall be approved by the governing body, and file in the office of the city clerk, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties required of him or her by law, and for the faithful application and payment of all moneys that may come into his or her hands in the execution of the duties of the office. The city shall pay the cost of such bond.

(c)   The monthly salary of the clerk shall be fixed by the city council.

(d)   A majority of all members of the council may remove the clerk appointed under the authority of this article or for good cause the mayor may temporarily suspend any such appointed clerk.

(K.S.A. Supp. 12-4108; Code 1978, 10-106; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

Where a municipal court judgment against any person results in a fine and/or court costs only, the same shall be satisfied by paying the amount of such fine and/or court costs to the municipal court immediately on the rendition of judgment, or at such time as the municipal judge shall determine.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully fail to pay any lawfully imposed fine for a violation of any law of the city within the time authorized by the court and without lawful excuse having been presented to the court on or before the date the fine is due. Such conduct constitutes a violation of this article, regardless of the full payment of the fine after such time.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person charged with violation of any law of the city to fail to appear before the municipal court when so scheduled to appear, unless lawful excuse for absence is presented to the court on or before the time and date scheduled for appearance.

(b)   For the purpose of subsection (a), failure to appear shall include willfully incurring a forfeiture of an appearance bond and failure to surrender oneself within 30 days following the date of such forfeiture by one who is charged with a violation of the laws of the city and has been released on bond for appearance before the municipal court for trial or other proceeding prior to conviction, or willfully incurring a forfeiture of an appearance bond and failing to surrender oneself within 30 days after his or her conviction of a violation of the laws of the city has become final by one who has been released on an appearance bond by any court of this state.

(c)   Any person who is released upon his or her own recognizance, without surety, or who fails to appear in response to a summons, notice to appear, or traffic citation duly served upon him or her personally shall be deemed a person released on bond for appearance within the meaning of subsection (b) of this section.

(d)   Failure to appear, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by incarceration for up to 30 days and/or a fine of up to $250.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

When a person pleads guilty, is found guilty or pleads no contest, there shall be assessed court costs as follows:

(a)   Excepting Article 6, violations of the Standard Traffic Ordinances for Kansas Cities as adopted by the City shall be assessed in the amount of $50.00.

(b)   Violations of Article 6 of the Standard Traffic Ordinances for Kansas Cities as adopted by the City shall be assessed in the amount of $158.00.

(c)   Violations of Articles 2 through 7 of Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of St. Francis, Kansas shall be assessed in the amount of $50.00.

(d)   Violations of the Uniform Public Offense Code for Kansas Cities as adopted by the City shall be assessed in the amount of $158.00.

(e)   Excepting Articles 2 through 7 of Chapter 14, violations of the Code of the City of St. Francis, Kansas, as amended shall be assessed in the amount of $158.00.

(f)   Additionally, when applicable, the following shall apply:

(1)   Witness fees and mileage as set forth in K.S.A. 12-4411.

(2)   Fifty Dollars ($50.00) additional fee for installment payments of fines and court costs.

(C.O. No. 1; Ord. 452; Code 1994; Ord. 482; Ord 494; Ord. 504; Code 2003; Ord. 536; Code 2015; Ord. 611)

All fees paid to the municipal court as a result of a person’s participation in a diversion program offered by the city attorney shall be transferred by the municipal court clerk to the city clerk and maintained in a separate account designated as the Diversion Fee Fund. Monies from this fund are to be utilized for only law enforcement training and the purchase of equipment for the city police department.

(Code 2003; Code 2015)