THE BEGINNING…

Judge C.W. Rathbun was elected the first county judge on January 6, 1891. After the City of Odessa was  incorporated in 1927, the first judge appointed was Judge T.G. Hendricks. Corporation Court was established by city ordinance on May 23, 1927, and county judges served as judges for Corporation Court City of Odessa from 1927 to 1936. In 1936, the first Police Judge was appointed. The first Police Judge was paid a salary of $1 per each case tried in his court.

From 1961 to 1973, Judge Cecil Hardwick served as part-time judge. From 1927 to 1973, judges were not required to have any background in law! Judge Otis Moore was the first fulltime judge hired by the City Council for the City of Odessa (in 1973) who was required to have a law degree. According to a city ordinance passed in that year, all judges for the Municipal Court City of Odessa were required to have a law degree (a requirement that still exists today), and the position was also changed to a fulltime position. Larry McMillion served as part-time judge at night starting in 1982. In 1984, Judge Justin Weatherly was hired as fulltime judge.

In 1927, the court was held at the county court house. In 1936, the court was moved to the Police Department, and in 1984, the current Police and Municipal Court building was finished.

In 1927, most of the defendants held in custody were detained because of being drunk or for disorderly conduct. Credit for time served for people in jail in 1927 was nothing. Prior to 1962, credit for time served was set at $1 a day. Between 1962 and 1995, credit for time served increased from $3 per day to $50 per day.

In 1927, there were not any funds collected for parking meter violations. Two hundred and fifty parking meters were installed in October 1939 and removed in November 1939. By 1945, there were 500 parking meters in Odessa, and parking meters were made exempt on Saturdays in 1962. A fine of $.50 was charged for parking violations in 1979; if not paid in 24 hours the fine amount was $1. In 1927, there were not any traffic violations, therefore records are not available for the fine amounts.

Prior to 1998, a fund did not exist to pay for security or new technology. So in 1998, a security fund and a technology fund were established by assessing a $3 fee on each citation issued.

The total revenue collected by the court in 1927 is unknown.

AND NOW…

In 2000, Denn Whalen was appointed the current fulltime judge.

The total revenue collected by the court at the end of October 2001 was $2,672,411.

Our current Municipal Court Judge receives an approximate salary of $63,000 per year.

In the year 2001, most defendants who were detained were charged with violations of traffic laws. Offenses for simple assault/family violence and offenses involving alcohol are two other common charges that defendants violate regularly.

Today, credit for time served is $100 per day.

Currently, parking violations are $4 if paid within 10 days; $11 on the 11th day.

In 2001, fines for speeding ranged from $78 to $263. Seat belt violations were $155. Public intoxication fines were $200 and simple assault/family violence fines were $290.

» Back to the Municipal Court Home Page