The cities of Watauga, Richland Hills, and North Richland Hills, Texas, operating as Home-Rule municipalities under each City’s Charter, are formally issuing a Request For Qualifications (RFQs) from highly qualified, experienced, and licensed attorneys to provide contract judicial services for the Municipal Court. This RFQ represents a collaborative search by all three municipalities to identify qualified candidates for the Presiding Municipal Court Judge within each respective jurisdiction. The three cities participate in a joint Detention Facility, Dispatch Center, and Teen Court. Each municipality maintains a single court overseen by a Presiding Judge who handles Class C misdemeanors, traffic violations, state statutory violations, and city ordinance enforcement within their respective municipal boundaries, while managing Associate Judges to ensure continuous judicial proceedings. Together, the three municipalities require a combined 62 to 68 minimum monthly docket hours and process a 3-year annual average of 22,846 cases filed and 8,550 arraignments/warrants.

In accordance with Chapter 29 and Chapter 30 of the Texas Government Code and each City’s Charter, the City Councils intends to appoint a Presiding Municipal Court Judge to serve a statutory two-year term. The ideal candidate will demonstrate high ethical standing, deep familiarity with Texas criminal procedure, and a commitment to the objective and efficient administration of local justice.