Here comes the judge.

Soon, in the city of Logan, if you get issued a traffic citation or other non-jailable offense, you may be going before a judge at Logan City Hall.

The city council approved the first reading of a new ordinance creating the position of municipal court judge for the city of Logan.

Police Chief E.K. Harper discussed the ordinance with council members on June 10.

Harper said the new ordinance would replace an older city code and create an approved appointment position that must be reappointed following each city election.

The municipal court judge must be an attorney in good standing with the West Virginia Bar, and will have jurisdiction on civil or criminal city ordinances, and can sign search warrants. If he or she resigns, a new judge can be appointed and approved by council. A municipal clerk will work with the judge on scheduling hearings and trials for offenders.

Individual offenders will have the right to a jury trial if they so choose, but Harper said individuals who ask for and receive a jury trial and lose their case would be required to pay court costs under the ordinance.

Per the ordinance, jurors would be paid $25 per day. Appeals can be made via Logan County Circuit Court. The ordinance would go into effect if approved after a second reading.

Chief Harper explained that the city has no desire in handling criminal cases, and is merely interested in having traffic court type hearings on issues like traffic and civil citations. By having a municipal court, the city would then be able to collect fines on fees for offenders.

"These fines have been going to the county," Harper said.

"Jailable offenses will still be going to Magistrate Court, and this will mostly be used for traffic citations."

"One more reading and we will be ready to start," Mayor Serafino Nolletti said.

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