What happened
Caroline McClimon will continue her appointment as the presiding judge, while newly appointed Jay Caballero will assume his role supporting McClimon as associate judge. Both will serve two-year terms.
The details
McClimon will be paid $117,371 annually for about 1,000 hours of work, as outlined in her contract.
Caballero’s contract indicates he will receive a flat rate of $150 per event, such as jail magistrate trips; $400 for each half-day of court; and $50 for each overnight warrant he processes.
Their duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Preside over Municipal Court for criminal Class C misdemeanors, jury and nonjury trials, pretrial conferences, juvenile warnings, and other relevant cases
- Preside over civil truant conduct hearings and trials
- Maintain a central docket for all cases filed in the City of Bastrop
- Establish and maintain the Court Security panel
- Review and/or deny requests for continuances
- Determine innocence or culpability (without a jury) and levy fines consistent with the violation, ensuring equity and uniformity in applying laws and ordinances
- Supervise juror notification and guide jurors in their role in interpreting and applying the law
- Be available 24/7 to review and sign complaints, summons, subpoenas, search and arrest warrants, appeal bonds, etc.
- Support court activities with the Municipal Court Clerk, city prosecutor, and other city departments
- Review legislation and current case law affecting offenses and the criminal justice system; implement procedures for compliance and perform legal research as needed
