Which document governs the selection of municipal judges in a home-rule municipality?

Which document governs the selection of municipal judges in a home-rule municipality?

• A. The City Charter.
• B. The State Constitution.
• C. The Municipal Code.
• D. County Ordinance.

Answer: (A)

In a home-rule municipality, the city charter is the document that governs how municipal officers, including the municipal judge, are selected. The charter is the city’s foundational, voter-adopted rulebook for its own government, so it can specify whether a judge is elected by the voters or appointed by the council, along with qualifications, term length, and removal procedures. The state Constitution provides the general framework for municipalities, but once a city has a charter, that charter controls internal governance matters like the selection method. The Municipal Code contains the city’s ordinances, but it cannot override the charter on how leaders are chosen. County ordinances apply to counties, not to a city.

In a home-rule municipality, the city charter is the document that governs how municipal officers, including the municipal judge, are selected. The charter is the city’s foundational, voter-adopted rulebook for its own government, so it can specify whether a judge is elected by the voters or appointed by the council, along with qualifications, term length, and removal procedures. The state Constitution provides the general framework for municipalities, but once a city has a charter, that charter controls internal governance matters like the selection method. The Municipal Code contains the city’s ordinances, but it cannot override the charter on how leaders are chosen. County ordinances apply to counties, not to a city.