Port Arthur Municipal Court

Port Arthur Municipal Court cases in Jefferson County, Port Arthur, TX

Port Arthur Municipal Court is a municipal court serving the City of Port Arthur, Texas. It has limited jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanors and municipal ordinance violations arising within the city, including traffic citations, parking violations, code-enforcement matters, and other fine-only criminal offenses (e.g., disorderly conduct, public intoxication, minors in possession). The court has exclusive original jurisdiction over city ordinance cases and concurrent jurisdiction with justice courts for state Class C offenses committed inside city limits. It does not hear family law, felony, or higher-grade misdemeanor cases. Its judicial functions also include magistrate duties such as issuing arrest and search warrants, conducting probable-cause and arraignment proceedings, and setting bail.

Port Arthur Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Port Arthur Municipal Court

Port Arthur Municipal Court serves the public by resolving fine-only offenses within city limits. It:
- Processes case filings for Class C misdemeanors and city ordinance violations, including traffic/parking, code enforcement, and other citation-based complaints.
- Manages court hearings: arraignments, pretrial settings, judge or jury trials, show-cause/compliance, indigency, and failure-to-appear/warrant dockets.
- Provides compliance options: plea entry; payments and payment plans; deferred disposition; driver safety course requests; community service; and dismissals upon proof of correction when allowed.
- Administers jury services: summons, qualification, selection, and juror assistance for municipal trials.
- Performs magistrate functions: issuing warrants, conducting magistration/bond proceedings, and, where authorized by Texas law, issuing emergency protective orders after qualifying arrests.
- Handles juvenile and school-related Class C matters on designated dockets and maintains case records, subpoenas, and certified copies.