(a) Any municipality which shall have abolished its municipal court may thereafter by ordinance reestablish such court in the manner provided in this section.
(b) A copy of the proposed ordinance shall be sent by certified mail to the officers specified in Section 12-14-17 to receive notice of the abolition of municipal courts, together with notice stating the time and place of the meeting at which such ordinance shall be considered for adoption, which shall be not less than 15 days from the date of mailing such notice.
(c) Such ordinance upon its adoption shall specify the effective date of the reestablishment of the municipal court, which in no event shall be sooner than the following stipulated minimums:
(1) In municipalities with a population of 5,000 or less, the ordinance shall not have an effective date of less than 90 days subsequent to the date of adoption;
(2) In municipalities with a population of 5,001 and up to 50,000, the ordinance shall not have an effective date of less than 12 months subsequent to the date of adoption; and
(3) In municipalities with a population of 50,000 or more, the ordinance shall not have an effective date of less than five years subsequent to the date of adoption.
(d) A certified copy of the ordinance reestablishing a municipal court as adopted shall be transmitted forthwith by certified mail to the officers specified in Section 12-14-17 to receive notice of the abolition of municipal courts.
(e) All cases and processes pending upon the effective date of the reestablishment of the municipal court shall be delivered by the clerk of the district court to the clerk of the municipal court. Records of completed cases and inactive process shall be retained in the office of the clerk of the district court.
(f) On the effective date of transfer of pending cases as provided in this section, all proceedings relating to ordinance violations of the municipality reestablishing its municipal court shall be within the jurisdiction of the reestablished municipal court.
Last modified: May 3, 2021