Judges
The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center is the primary provider of specialized judicial education and training opportunities for Texas municipal judges. The staff of TMCEC is steadfastly committed to providing education and training so that municipal judges may administer justice with fairness, efficiency, and a thorough understanding of the law.
According to the Rules of Judicial Education, all municipal judges (both attorney and non-attorney) must complete judicial education every year. Newly appointed or elected attorney judges must attend a regional seminar within one year from appointment or election and once every academic year thereafter. To qualify as an attorney judge, you must be licensed by the State Bar of Texas.
Newly appointed or elected non-attorney judges must, within one year from the date of appointment or election, complete 32 hours of continuing judicial education before attending a regional seminar the next year and once every school year thereafter. (See scheduled dates below). Completion of a new judge form is required after appointment.
Register online, click here!
Regional Judges Seminars
For all attorney judges and non-attorney judges who have previously completed the new judges conference, the regional judges conference offers 16 hours of education designed to address a broad range of issues which are applicable to courts of all sizes.
The regional seminars schedule is typically as follows, some exceptions may apply. Please refer to the rules for judicial training hours and required attendance, here. Sample AY 21 Regional Curriculum, here.
Day 1: 1:00 - 5:00 pm (Special Session 4-hr Credit)
Day 2: 8:00 - 5:00 (Mandatory Class 8-hr Credit)
Day 3: 8:00 - 12:00 (Class 4-hrs Credit)
Registration fee $100. Click here to see the latest schedule of events.
New Judges Seminar (Non-Attorney only)
The Rules of Judicial Education require that all municipal judges who are not licensed by the State Bar of Texas attend 32 hours of TMCEC judicial training within one year of the date of their appointment or election. This seminar satisfies the education required for newly appointed non-attorney judges and is on a first come, first serve basis. These conferences offer up to 35 hours in education during a five (5) day period. Programs begin at 1:00 p.m. on Monday and conclude at noon on Friday. Admission is limited to new non-attorney municipal judges. Non-attorney municipal judges who have been inactive for more than two consecutive academic years are required to repeat the new judges program. Participants must be appointed to office prior to registration.
Registration Fee: $100, click here to see the latest schedule of events.
Traffic Safety Conference
TMCEC offers a 12-hour Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Conference in cooperation with TxDOT for municipal judges, clerks, juvenile case managers, and prosecutors.
Traffic Safety Award recipients will be recognized at the conference and receive complimentary conference registration, travel to and from the conference to include airfare or mileage that is within state guidelines, two nights at the Hotel, and most meals and refreshments. To find out how your court can be selected to receive this honor next year, contact TMCEC at 800.252.3718 or tmcec@tmcec.com. View previous award winner information and programs.
Registration Fee $100. Click here to see the latest schedule of events.
TMCEC, in conjunction with TxDOT, is offering this year’s 12-hour Traffic Safety Conference virtually! Municipal judges, clerks, prosecutors, and juvenile case managers are encouraged to attend! Judicial education, clerk certification, and MCLE credit are available.
Impaired Driving Symposium
TMCEC offers an 8-hour Impaired Driving Symposium in cooperation with Texas Association of Counties, Texas Center for the Judiciary, and Texas Justice Court Training Center. The symposium is only for judges and will count for eight hours of judicial education credit as well at CLE credit. This program brings together judges of all levels to better understand responsibilities and issues surrounding impaired driving cases.
Click here to see the latest schedule of events.