Friendswood Municipal Court

Friendswood Municipal Court cases in Galveston County, Friendswood, TX

Friendswood Municipal Court is a municipal court for the City of Friendswood, Texas. It has limited jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanor criminal matters punishable by fine only that occur within the city, including traffic and parking violations, city ordinance and code-enforcement violations (e.g., animal, fire, and health/safety codes), and other fine-only offenses such as public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and alcohol/tobacco offenses by minors. The court conducts arraignments, accepts pleas, assesses fines and compliance options, and may issue warrants and perform magistrate functions. It does not handle family law, felonies, Class A or B misdemeanors, or general civil disputes, which are heard in the appropriate county justice, county, or district courts.

Friendswood Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Friendswood Municipal Court

Friendswood Municipal Court serves the public by processing fine‑only Class C misdemeanor cases and managing related court services.

- Case types: traffic and parking citations; state fine‑only offenses; city ordinance violations (animal control, property maintenance, noise, fire safety, zoning); juvenile/minor offenses (e.g., tobacco/alcohol, curfew); truant conduct/school attendance matters.
- Case filings and processing: accepts complaints/citations from law enforcement and code officers; dockets cases; handles pleas, payments, payment plans, extensions, compliance dismissals, defensive driving and deferred disposition; issues and clears warrants; manages bonds and records.
- Court hearings: arraignments, pretrial conferences, show‑cause and indigency hearings, juvenile dockets, and trials before a judge or jury.
- Jury services: juror summons, qualification, deferrals/excuses, check‑in, and trial panels.
- Magistrate functions: magistration, arrest/capias warrants, and Magistrate's Orders of Emergency Protection after qualifying arrests.