§ 20. Municipal Court.

There shall be a Municipal Court for the trial of all offenders against the laws or bylaws, ordinances and regulations of said City. The Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, or recorder to be appointed by the Mayor and Council may serve as the judge of said court. Said court shall have the power to preserve order and punish for contempt as hereinafter provided. Said court is hereby empowered to compel the attendance of witnesses and to hold witnesses in contempt for failure to obey the mandates and subpoenas of the court. Said court shall be authorized and empowered to punish for violation of the laws or ordinances of said City by imprisonment in the City prison for a period not exceeding 90 days, by compelling the defendant or offender to labor upon the streets of said City for a period not longer than 90 days or by a fine not exceeding $500.00, to include costs of court, which fine may be collected by execution, or by any one or more of these punishments, in the discretion of the court. Either one of said punishments may be imposed as an alternative punishment to some other imposed. The Council shall fix fees for the Marshal, Clerk and presiding officers of said court to be taxed against losing party in all cases. In order to be eligible to be appointed recorder, an individual shall be at least 25 years of age, of good moral character and be a resident of Liberty County.

(1977 Ga. Laws (Act No. 457), page 3514, § 1)

State law reference

Municipal Court, O.C.G.A. § 36-32-1 et seq.