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8.B.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
Meeting Date:
07/07/2020
From:
Jessica Cortes, Court Administrator

Information

TITLE:

Consideration of Appointments: On-Call Magistrates for the Flagstaff Municipal Court.

STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the appointments of Honorable Charles Adornetto, Honorable Gerald McCafferty, and Honorable Susan Slasor as On-Call Magistrates.

Executive Summary:

Appointment of all magistrates is required to be completed by the Flagstaff City Council for a two-year term under both the City Charter and FCC Section 1-15-001-0002(A).  Appointment of Magistrates On-Call for the Municipal Court allows for ongoing operations of the court without interruption. 
 
Magistrates On-Call hear criminal, civil, traffic and local code violations that are filed in the Flagstaff Municipal Court.  They conduct trials, both jury and non-jury, and sentence individuals within the parameters set by law.  Magistrates On-Call are required for the ongoing operational needs of the Municipal Court.  Magistrates On-Call are critical to the criminal and civil processes of the judicial branch.
 
Judges Adornetto,  McCafferty and Slasor, have all been serving in their current capacity as On-Call Magistrate at the Municipal Court and are requesting to continue in their current roles.

Financial Impact:

Funding for all judicial positions are included in the approved budget of the Flagstaff Municipal Court. No additional budgetary impact is anticipated.

Policy Impact:

On-Call Magistrates are critical to the criminal and civil processes of the judicial branch. These appointments help maintain an independent judiciary that is necessary for the ongoing operations of our local government. A strong, independent and fair judicial branch provides balance to criminal and civil matters that require resolution within our municipality.

Connection to Council Goal, Regional Plan, CAAP, and/or Strategic Plan:

Personnel - Attract and retain quality staff.

Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:

All Magistrate On-Call candidates have been appointed by previous City Councils and have been serving in the Flagstaff Municipal Court between four and eighteen years.

Options and Alternatives:

Approve the appointments.
Don't approve the appointments and request alternative candidates for Council consideration.

Expanded Options and Alternatives:

Inform.