Books
Visit our new online store to purchase physical copies of our publications!
Click one of these links to download (at no cost) the desired publication: Forms Book, Bench Book, Level I Municipal Court Guide, Level II Municipal Court Guide
For more information on individual publications see below:
Original Publication: 2002
Most Recent Revision: 2018
Edition: 7th
Length: 228 pages
Binding: Glue
Featuring both historic and contemporary issues, The Municipal Judges Book critically analyzes the nature of municipal courts and the judge’s role in the Texas criminal justice system. An ideal textbook for new judges and others interested in procedural and substantive laws impacting Texas municipal courts, the content includes:
- an introduction to municipal courts and the Texas judicial system;
- judgments, indigence, and enforcement;
- rights of the accused and victims;
- contempt;
- the adjudication of juveniles in municipal court;
- judicial ethics; and
- legal research.
The Municipal Judges Book is available for sale as an eBook for $9.99 through several different platforms. It can be purchased from:
The eBook is also available through:
- iBook
- Scribd
- Baker & Taylor
- Copia
- Gardners
This is formatted to be downloaded the same as any other ebook. They can either enter their platform’s store depending on their eReader (i.e. Kindle, Nook, iPad all have different eBook stores) and download directly to their devices, download through a web browser on their computer and use iCloud or plug their device into their computer to transfer the eBook file.
Original Publication: 1996
Most Recent Revision: 2020
Edition: 13th
Length: 390 pages
Binding: Spiral bound with tabs
Download at no cost: Here
TMCEC's Bench Book is a reference guide for Texas municipal judges serving in their capacity as trial court judges and magistrates. It is designed for quick reference and contains scripts and easy-to-follow procedural guidelines as well as references to applicable statutes, Attorney General Opinions, and case law.
This 13th edition is titled TMCEC 2020 Bench Book as it incorporates important statutory changes from the 86th Regular Legislature. Some of these changes are effective January 1, 2020. Notably, the passage of S.B. 346 brought important changes relating to criminal court costs and procedures. Rather than try and provide information on dual sets of law—with one set becoming inapplicable in little more than a month, we made the decision to provide clear guidance for 2020 and beyond.
Tabs include:
- Magistrate Duties
- Search Warrants, Arrest Warrants, and Other Writs
- Pro Se Defendants and Defendants Represented By Counsel
- Appearance and Pleas
- Driving Safety Courses (DSC)
- Pretrial Proceedings
- Trial Proceedings
- Sentencing, Deferred, and Indigence
- Bond Forfeitures
- New Trials and Appeals
- City Ordinances
- Oaths and Ceremonies
- Juvenile and Minor Proceedings
- Contempt of Court
- Corporations and Associations
- Evidence
- Animals
- Expunctions
You can download at no cost the entire Bench Book as one file or as individual chapters here.
Original Publication: 2008
Most Recent Revision: 2020
Edition: 7th
Length: 160 pages
Binding: Spiral bound with tabs
The Class C and Fine-only Misdemeanors Handbook (the "Green Book") represents a comprehensive effort to compile all Class C, fine-only criminal offenses under state law. Covering 26 codes and containing roughly 1,300 offenses, it includes statutory cites for both the offense and penalty provision(s), the fine or fine range for each offense, DPS reporting codes for those offenses that have assigned codes, and notes those offenses that are enhanceable or for which circumstances would heighten the punishment category. An appendix contains the list of moving violations promulgated by DPS in the Texas Administrative Code. The book also contains indices with traffic offense and Penal Code offense titles that correlate with those indices contained in the Texas Criminal and Traffic Law Manual.
The seventh edition is current though the 86th Legislature and includes more than 1,300 entries for fine-only crimes. This edition includes 112 changes, including 30 new entries, 73 modified or amended entries, and 9 entries removed or repealed. For those keeping score, this edition now has had the most updates to any edition since these statistics have been tracked.
Tabs:
- Minor Alcohol
- Penal Code
- Rules of the Road
- Costs & Codes
Original Publication: 2009
Most Recent Revision: 2018
Edition: 4th
Length: 51 pages
Binding: Spiral bound
The Court Interpreters' Municipal Court Legal Glossary is a combination of the Spanish glossary and definitions provided by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for those studying to be licensed court interpreters.
Modifications have been made to delete some civil court references, or to be municipal court specific. In addition, we have added terms generally utilized only by municipal court. This is by no means an exhaustive glossary of all applicable terms, or the only possible choices for translation; however, we hope that this will provide a solid base from which you can study, understand basic legal terminology, and improve your communication skills.