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Draft:Texas Municipal Courts Education Center

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The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center (TMCEC)[1] is a non-profit organization based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to judicial education. TMCEC provides education, technical assistance, and resource materials to municipal judges and court personnel across the state. It is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the United States, delivering municipal court-specific instruction to over 5,000 constituents annually.[2]

History

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TMCEC was established in 1984 by the Texas Municipal Courts Association[3] to provide mandatory and continuing education for municipal judges,[4] specialized training for municipal court staff including prosecutors, and a certification program for court clerks.[5],[6] The Center regularly develops courses addressing specific changes in relevant law and procedures. For instance, following the 2021 changes to Texas bail laws (Senate Bill 6), the organization developed an 8-hour judicial training curriculum mandated by the statute.[7], [8]

Structure and Funding

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TMCEC operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, primarily funded by a grant from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.[9] In Texas, the Court of Criminal Appeals administers judicial education under Chapter 56 of the Texas Government Code (Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund), as well as Article IV of the Texas General Appropriations Act.[10]

Services and Initiatives

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TMCEC actively updates and fills informational gaps for municipal courts in Texas, helping judges and staff maintain professional competence through direct technical and legal assistance, publications, legislative updates, multi-day seminars, and webinars. The Center also supports local governments in enhancing traffic safety through its Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives (MTSI)[11],[12] grant from the Texas Department of Transportation. In 2016, MTSI received the Peter K. O’Rourke Special Achievement Award from the Governor’s Highway Safety Administration.[13]

Impact

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According to the Texas Office of Court Administration, more than 12 million cases were on municipal court dockets at the start of Fiscal Year 2023.[14] This significant caseload underscores the importance of TMCEC's educational resources for municipal courts and the Texas communities they serve.

References

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  1. ^ "Texas Municipal Courts Education Center". Texas Municipal Courts Education Center.
  2. ^ Korn, Will (November 21, 2024). "Texas Municipal Courts Education Center celebrates 40th anniversary". Texas Bar Blog.
  3. ^ "Texas Municipal Courts Association - Education". www.txmca.com.
  4. ^ https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1447901/rules-of-judicial-education.pdf
  5. ^ "Clerk Certification".
  6. ^ "Copper Canyon court administrator becomes certified". 26 July 2021.
  7. ^ "TJB | PSRS | Training & Education". www.txcourts.gov.
  8. ^ "2023 Texas Statutes :: Code of Criminal Procedure :: Title 1 - Code of Criminal Procedure :: Chapter 17 - Bail :: Article 17.024. Training on Duties Regarding Bail". Justia Law.
  9. ^ "TJB | CCA | Judicial & Court Personnel Training Fund | Current Grantees". www.txcourts.gov.
  10. ^ "TJB | Judicial Education". www.txcourts.gov.
  11. ^ https://www.tmcec.com/mtsi/
  12. ^ https://www.cityofcarrollton.com/Home/Components/News/News/4733/1840
  13. ^ "2016 Winner: Texas Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives | GHSA". www.ghsa.org.
  14. ^ "TJB | Judicial Data | Statistics & Other Data | Annual Statistical Reports | 2023". www.txcourts.gov.
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